Queen’s last corgi Whisper passes away

The Queen adopted the corgi two years ago

The Queen's last corgi, a 12-year-old called Whisper, has died following several weeks of illness.

The monarch adopted the dog two years ago after his owner, former Sandringham gamekeeper Bill Fenwick, passed away.

According to The Daily Mail, the corgi died last week at Windsor Castle, leaving the Queen "deeply saddened".

"Whisper was a friendly chap and followed her everywhere," a source said.

"The Queen has quickly become very attached to the dog."

The Queen still has two dorgis called Candy and Vulcan, who are crossbreeds between daschunds and corgis.

She received her first corgi as a gift on her 18th birthday, who she named Susan.

The Queen with one of her corgis (Rex Features)

The Queen has owned more than 30 corgis since she became Queen of the United Kingdom in 1952, with all of them apart from Whisper related to Susan.

In April this year, the last of the Queen's royal corgis that could trace its lineage back to Susan passed away.

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi has an average lifespan of 11 to 13 years, explains Pet Health and Pet Nutrition Information (PetMD).

Corgis may be prone to developing health conditions including epilepsy, degenerative myelopathy, canine hip dysplasia and intervertebral disc disease.

This breed is known for being particularly skilled at herding cattle.