Expert Says Andrew May Have Lost His Titles But There's 'One Thing He Still Controls'

(L) Andrew and Sarah attend the Easter Service; (Inset) Queen Elizabeth at Porton Down; (R) King Charles attends an Advent Service. Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) Karwai Tang/WireImage; (Inset) Ben Stansall - WPA Pool; (R) Chris Jackson

Feb. 09 2026, Published 09:26 AM. ET

New reports suggest Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson are outrightly refusing to hand over the late Queen Elizabeth's beloved corgis to King Charles. As per insiders, no one beyond the former Duke and Duchess of York knows of the dogs' whereabouts, raising serious concerns about their well-being. Sources say their reluctance to relinquish care of the corgis reflects poorly on their sense of responsibility as pet owners and blatantly disregards the Queen's legacy.

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson arrive for the Duchess of Kent's funeral. — Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson arrive for the Duchess of Kent's funeral. (Image Source: Getty Images| Max Mumby/Indigo)

In an article on his Substack, royal commentator Rob Shuter documented his sources' accounts, who claimed Mountbatten-Windsor and Ferguson were hell-bent on their decision to keep the dogs. An insider spilled, "Andrew is no longer a prince, but he's still acting like one. The late Queen's beloved corgis were meant to be handed over to the King. That hasn't happened." Many revealed that despite multiple requests made by Charles politely and privately, "They're getting stonewalled." The corgis, a sturdy herding dog breed, were the late Queen's most treasured companions, who owned at least 30 of them throughout her 70-year reign.

Prince Andrew, Duke of York and King Charles III attend Katharine, Duchess of Kent's Requiem Mass service at Westminster Cathedral. (Image Source:Getty Images | Max Mumby) — Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Sarah Ferguson, and King Charles attend the Duchess of Kent's Requiem Mass service. (Image Source: Getty Images | Max Mumby/Indigo)

Shuter asserted that the beloved dogs were the Queen's most cherished companions and symbols of continuity and comfort throughout her reign. A source sneered, "This isn't about pet ownership. It's about respecting the Queen's legacy." Meanwhile, another believed that the Yorks' defiant refusal to hand over the dogs stems only from a place of control. "He's [Andrew] lost his titles, his role, his standing. This is one thing he still controls," remarked an insider. As Shuter aptly put it, "The message from the Palace is clear: these dogs belong to history, not defiance."

Queen Elizabeth photographing her corgis at Windsor Park in 1960. (Image Source: Getty Images | Anwar Hussein)

The late Queen's affinity for corgis began in 1933 when she was just seven and played with a corgi owned by the Marquess of Bath. According to the BBC, at the time, Pembroke Welsh corgis were still relatively new in England, prompting her father to contact a well-known breeder in Surrey, who brought several puppies from her Rozavel kennel for the family to choose from. The Queen received her own corgi, Susan, for her 18th birthday, marking the start of a personal breeding line. Their bond was so close that Susan even accompanied the then-Princess Elizabeth on her honeymoon in 1947.

As for Mountbatten-Windsor and Ferguson's role in caring for the dogs, when the Queen passed away in September 2022, it was revealed that her final two corgis, Sandy and Muick, would be cared for by the pair at their home at Royal Lodge. At the time, a source close to Mountbatten-Windsor told The Telegraph that Ferguson reportedly "bonded with Her Majesty over dog walking and riding horses." Now, with Mountbatten-Windsor moving to Sandringham, Buckingham Palace said in a statement, "The corgis will remain with the family," but did not clarify if they would reside with the former Duke or Duchess of York or their daughters.