The corgi community has “lost part of our world” following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, an expert has said.

The late monarch was known for her love of the breed, owning more than 30 corgis and dorgis – a corgi-dachshund cross – during her reign.

Earlier in the year, her fondness for the dogs was celebrated during Platinum Jubilee events, with a gathering of 70 corgis at Balmoral and a “corgi derby” at Musselburgh racecourse.

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Kay Hogg, secretary of the Welsh Corgi League Scottish sector, said the corgi community was saddened at the Queen’s death.

The Queen's life in pictures

They told the PA news agency: “We are very, very sad. Everywhere the Queen went there were always corgis. She grew up with corgis and everybody associated corgis with the Queen.

“We feel as though, although there is a corgi league and a society, we’ve actually lost part of our world. She did so much for the breed, always had corgis by her side all her life.”

Hogg also said that corgis are "small dogs with big personalities” adding: "They are little characters, they like to play, and they are energetic feisty little dogs.”

Back in June as part of celebrations for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, more than 70 corgis gathered on the lawn at Balmoral Castle. 

Mourners pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

The corgi gathering was organised by the Corgi Society of Scotland and the UK Corgi Club, the event brought together dozens of Cardigan Welsh and Pembroke Welsh corgis.

Most of the Queen’s corgis were descended from her first corgi, Susan, who was gifted to her on her 18th birthday in 1944.

The Queen looked after her own dogs as much as possible and during weekends spent at Windsor, the corgis went too and lived in her private apartments.

She fed them herself, whenever her busy schedule permitted, and also enjoyed walking the dogs.