Queen Camilla "heartbroken" by death of rescue dog
Queen Camilla, who is recovering from a chest infection, has had to make the tough decision of putting her beloved pet dog, Beth, down after she was diagnosed with an untreatable tumour.
The news was revealed by Buckingham Palace in a message shared to social media, which read: "A sad farewell to Beth, the Queen's much-loved companion from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home who brought such joy, whether on walkies, helping on official duties, or curled up by the fire".
The 77-year-old royal is said to be "heartbroken" by the loss over the weekend.
Beth was rescued by Camilla in 2011, and because she was a rescue, the animal charity was never sure of Beth's age.
The royal later adopted another Jack Russell, Bluebell, soon after getting Beth, when she became patron of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in 2017, taking over from the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Recalling the moment she found Bluebell, the Queen previously told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Along I went to Battersea, and Beth appeared, and she had just been moved from pillar to post and dumped.
"We thought it would be nice for her to have a friend. They found [Bluebell] two or three weeks later, wandering about in woods, no hair on her, covered in sores, virtually dead. And they nursed her back to life and her hair grew again.
"She's very sweet, but a tiny bit neurotic, shall we say.
"The nice thing about dogs is you can sit them down, you could have a nice long conversation, you could be cross, you could be sad and they just sit looking at you, wagging their tail."
The two dogs were often by her side at public events and were even featured in an official portrait alongside Camilla.
Pictures of her two pups were also embroidered onto the Queen's Coronation gown.
Camilla once said of her dogs: "I cannot imagine my life, my home or my sofas without them".
Image: Instagram/ The Royal Family