Corgis parade outside Buckingham Palace in remembrance of Queen Elizabeth II: See the photos

Kwiyeon Ha
·2 min read
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LONDON — The changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace may draw tourists from far and wide, but on Sunday visitors to the landmark were treated to a different sort of spectacle: a parade of corgis dressed up in crowns, tiaras and royal outfits.

Around 20 royal fans and their pet corgis gathered to walk their dogs outside the palace in central London to remember Queen Elizabeth II a year since her death.

Corgis were the late queen's constant companions since she was a child, and Elizabeth owned around 30 throughout her life. Generations of the dogs descended from Susan, a corgi that was given to the queen on her 18th birthday.

Maggi a Pembrokeshire Corgi with her owner takes part in a parade of corgi dogs in memory of the late Queen Elizabeth II, near Buckingham Palace in London, Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023.
Maggi a Pembrokeshire Corgi with her owner takes part in a parade of corgi dogs in memory of the late Queen Elizabeth II, near Buckingham Palace in London, Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023.

Agatha Crerer-Gilbert, who organized Sunday's event, said she would like the corgi march to take place every year in Elizabeth's memory.

"I can't see a better way to remember her than through her corgis, through the breed that she loved and cherished through her life," she said.

More: What happens to the other royals under King Charles III and his new slimmed-down monarchy?

Royal fans and their pet corgis have gathered outside Buckingham Palace to remember Queen Elizabeth II a year on since the late monarch's death.
Royal fans and their pet corgis have gathered outside Buckingham Palace to remember Queen Elizabeth II a year on since the late monarch's death.

"You know, I can't still get used to the fact that she's not physically around us, but she's looking at us. Look, the sun is shining, I thought it would shine on us today," she added.

Around 20 corgi enthusiasts dressed up their pets in crowns, tiaras and royal outfits and paraded them outside the palace in central London on Sunday to pay tribute to Elizabeth, a well-known lover of the dog breed.
Around 20 corgi enthusiasts dressed up their pets in crowns, tiaras and royal outfits and paraded them outside the palace in central London on Sunday to pay tribute to Elizabeth, a well-known lover of the dog breed.

Aleksandr Barmin, who owns a corgi named Cinnamon and has taken the pet to attend past royal-related events, said the parade was a poignant reminder that Elizabeth is no longer around.

More: King Charles III succeeds Queen Elizabeth. What to know about British royal line.

Ruffus a Cardiganshire Corgi takes part in a parade of corgi dogs in memory of the late Queen Elizabeth II, outside Buckingham Palace, in London, Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023.
Ruffus a Cardiganshire Corgi takes part in a parade of corgi dogs in memory of the late Queen Elizabeth II, outside Buckingham Palace, in London, Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023.

"It's a really hard feeling, to be honest … it's really sad that we don't have (the queen) among us anymore," he said. "But still, Her Majesty the Queen is still in our hearts."

Sept. 8 will be the first anniversary of the death of the 96-year-old queen at her Balmoral castle estate in Scotland. She was queen for 70 years and was Britain's longest-reigning sovereign.

More: The world reacts to Queen Elizabeth II's death: Jill Biden, Elton John, more remember her

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Corgis parade in London to remember Queen Elizabeth II after her death