Princess comes face to face with corgis

THE Princess Royal was greeted by two corgis when she arrived at Sandringham Church today for the Royal Family's traditional Christmas service.

Earlier this week the Princess's English bull terrier Dotty attacked one of the Queen's corgis, Pharos, at Sandringham, resulting in the corgi being put down.

As the Princess Royal made the short walk from Sandringham House to St Mary Magdalene Church with other members of the Royal Family today, one of the first members of the public she passed was 62-year-old Trevor Marshall, of Gedney, Lincolnshire, who had brought with him his two pet Pembroke corgis called Quasi and Clare.

Mr Marshall, a member of the Welsh Corgi League, said he felt upset at the Queen's loss.

"I was very sad to hear about it," he said.

"I would not let my corgis, which are the same type of corgis as the Queen's, play around bull terriers for fear of them being attacked.

"It's not for me to say whether Princess Anne's dog should be put down.

"All I can say is that if a dog attacked one of my dogs, I would want it put down.'

Thirteen months ago the Princess Royal became the first member of the Royal Family to get a criminal record when she was fined £500 for letting Dotty run out of control.

Magistrates penalised her after the dog attacked two children in Windsor, Berkshire.

Some members of the public had strong views about the Princess's dog today.

Dick Lenton, of Skegness, Lincolnshire. said: "Princess Anne's dog should be put down.'

Sally Bowser, 50, who lives near Boston, Lincolnshire, added: "It kind of takes the shine of Christmas for the Queen.

"I feel really sad for her because our cat died this year and it is like family really.

"She carries on looking gracious when her little heart must be broken.'

Cath Barrell, 41, of Cambridge, added: "It was funny seeing Princess Anne standing next to the two corgis today. I thought she looked a bit uncomfortable.'

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