King Charles has always been fond of dogs. A letter from 1987 that has just been auctioned off reveals just how much he loved his dog Harvey, which he reportedly rehomed during his marriage to Princess Diana at her insistence.
The letter was written to the Comptroller of the Prince and Princess of Wales following the death of Harvey, the dog that frequently accompanied Charles on fishing trips. According to reports shared at the time, the dog was the cause of arguments between him and Diana, with her finding the lab “smelly.”
The comptroller kept the dog until its death, when he was put to sleep due to his old age.“You were absolutely right to take the decision you did, although it is always a desperate one to have to take,” reads Charles’ letter, as reported by The Telegraph.
© Getty Images“I am so pleased you all loved him so much. He was a splendid character and when we were both a bit younger, he made me laugh so much by his dotty antics.”
“As you say, he was a loyal old friend and I cannot thank you and your wife enough for your great kindness in agreeing to look after him and for giving him such a happy retirement away from those damp kennels.”
The letter was reportedly auctioned off for £656 in West London, with auctioners using the letter to highlight Charles’ close relationship with pets and animals. “This lot shows his genuine love for his dog and reinforces his long-standing image as an animal lover,” they wrote.
© Tim Graham Photo Library via GetCharles’ long-standing bond with dogs
King Charles grew up surrounded by dogs, with his mother, Queen Elizabeth, being a notorious dog lover, owning over 30 corgis throughout her life.
Charles’ first dog was Sugar, one of his mother’s corgis, who was his playmate when he was very young. He’s since shown a love for Jack Russells, having adopted some of them throughout his marriage to Queen Camilla. In 2017, he and Camilla adopted Bluebell and Beth. Following Beth’s death in 2024, the King and Queen adopted a terrier called Moley.
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