"In light of recent events, I wanted a name that is a touching tribute to the late Queen," James Middleton explained.
Kate Middleton's younger brother, James Middleton, is honoring the late Queen Elizabeth in his own way. The Princess of Wales' younger brother was inspired to name one of his new golden retriever puppies with a royal moniker so that he could honor the late monarch who "peacefully" passed away on September 8, 2022, and was laid to rest in a state burial on September 19, 2022. While in conversation with Hello! Magazine, James, 35, revealed that the pooch will be called Bertie, the sweet family nickname for Queen Elizabeth's father, King George VI, whose first name was Albert.
"In light of recent events, I wanted a name that is a touching tribute to the late Queen," James explained. The pup, which was born in August 2022 to the founder of Ella & Co.'s dog Mabel, shares a similarity with the Queen as he is in the process of becoming a guide dog. He too will spend his life in service, just like the Queen. On Bertie's future, James said, "It was incredible that the Queen dedicated her life to service, and in many ways Bertie the dog will be dedicating his life to service too."
James recently dropped off Bertie at a Guide Dogs hub in England as the first stage in the process. There, the puppy will train in the hopes of becoming a partner for someone who is blind or visually impaired. He commented further on the state funeral, saying that he was "extremely moved" and "still taken aback" by the ceremonies. "It is extraordinary to see how many people's lives Her Majesty touched, not just in our country, but in the Commonwealth and around the world," he said of the Queen's impact. "My eyes have been opened even wider to that."
On the day of the Queen's demise, Guide Dogs shared a sweet throwback photo of the monarch petting a golden retriever who was part of their program. "Like millions across the globe Guide Dogs is commemorating the life of HM Queen Elizabeth II. As a mark of respect, we are pausing all our external communications but we will be looking to maintain normal Guide Dogs services and all our sites will remain open."
"The Queen met many guide dogs and service users throughout her reign and visited some of our sites to learn about our work," Guide Dogs wrote in an Instagram post. The late monarch was a lifelong animal lover and was particularly fond of dogs and horses. She also kept corgis her entire adult life. In a heartbreaking salute, on the day of her funeral, two of her corgis stood with aides to escort her coffin to Windsor Castle before the committal service at St. George's Chapel.
References:
https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/20220925152243/james-middleton-queen-tribute-puppy
https://www.instagram.com/p/CiQWfVODPL6/?hl=en
Cover Image Source: (L) Instagram | James Middleton (R) Getty Images | Photo by Paul Hackett - WPA Pool
