King Charles and Queen Camilla's Christmas Tribute to Departed Dog Beth Inspires a New Royal Addition

Queen Camilla's dog of 13 years passed away recently, which led King Charles III, 76, to tell Royal Variety Performance hosts Alan Carr and Amanda Holden they plan on getting a new dog soon.

The Queen, 77, adopted Beth in 2011 from the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.

"I felt for her — I really felt for her when that happened," Holden shared after the Friday, November 22, annual show, which is, by tradition, always attended by senior royals.

Carr replied to his co-host, "I don't know how he felt about that because then he said, 'Merry Christmas.'"

"He did so well to be here," Holden responded. "He was really funny, I’ve always said out of everyone he’s got the best sense of humor in the whole of the royal family. They’re very down to earth, that’s what it is for me. You don’t feel intimidated when you meet them at all."

Carr concluded, "We also got the goss that he was laughing at some of our bits — so we’re very happy. You get a laugh and that’s what you’re here for."

Beth's passing led fellow dog lover James Middleton, 37, who wrote about his pet loss in Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life, to state, "The reason that losing a dog often feels harder than losing a relative or friend is, I think because the way they love us is so uncomplicated. Their simple request in life is that you love them back — and with that, there’s something so honest and pure. They don’t care who you are, even if you are the Queen of England. And Beth, the Queen’s Jack Russell who died last week, certainly didn’t care about her owner’s royal status; she just appreciated the love."

Reflecting on how Their Majesties are coping with the loss, Catherine, Princess of Wales' brother added, "Everyone’s different. It was reported yesterday that the King and Queen are planning to get a new dog. That will work for many people, but it wasn’t the right approach for me. I wanted to fill that void with memories and appreciation for Ella before considering another dog."

The King's preference for canines led him to become a nightmare landlord for any of his rural Sandringham estate tenants who have cats, a royal insider shared.

Although the monarch will allow dogs "on a case-by-case basis," the feline ban is said to be "strictly enforced," as are the 12-month minimum rental terms for multiple unfurnished properties rented out to everyday subjects of the Crown.

The cat rule was said to have originated during the early reign of Queen Elizabeth II — not because she disliked the pets but because she wanted to protect nearby bird populations. It is also rumored that the late sovereign may have been allergic to cats, which could help to explain her lifelong love of dogs.

People reported on Beth's passing.