Queen Camilla greets dogs as she visits Canterbury
Queen Camilla revealed she has recently adopted an eight-week-old puppy named Moley when she visited historic Canterbury on Tuesday morning.
Camilla, 77, said the new pup was rescued and is believed to be from Battersea Dogs and Cats home, where she adopted her dogs Beth and Bluebell in 2011 and 2012 respectively.
Her Majesty was left heartbroken when Beth, a Jack Russell Terrier, died last November, and when the King attended the Royal Variety Performance weeks later, he told TV presenter Amanda Holden - who is an ambassador for the world-famous animal rescue centre in London - that they planned to get a new dog.
It appears the couple has now made their choice: a pup who is “a bit of everything.”
The Queen revealed the happy news as she affectionately stroked a guide dog while meeting the partially-sighted museum group in the Beaney House of Art & Knowledge located in the centre of Canterbury’s bustling high street.
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Bending down to stroke Fergie the labrador the Queen remarked about how “affectionate” they are.
“I’ve just got a new puppy, he’s eight-weeks old,” she told owner Susan Mason, 66, who is partially-sighted.
When Ms Mason asked what breed he is, she laughed and said: “You may well ask, a bit of everything. Its a rescue dog. Its called Moley - it looks just like a mole.”
Ms Mason said afterwards that the puppy was named after Sarah Ferguson and often calls her “the Duchess”.
When the Queen first entered the Special Exhibition’s Gallery during her tour of Beaney, she made a beeline for a different guide dog, Ralph. Stroking him, she said: “He looks very happy, he can probably smell my dogs.”
Camilla then watched as the group, who meet monthly at the Beaney, made medallions to go on the bust of Canterbury-born writer Aphra Behn.
Upon arriving in the centre of the Cathedral-city, the Queen unveiled a life-size bronze statue of Ms Behn, who is considered to be the first professional female writer in the English language and one of the most popular playwrights of the 17th century which are still regularly performed.
Greeting a line up of dignatories, Camilla looked up at the ominous dark grey clouds and said: “I am just praying the rain is going to hold.”
Stewart Ross, the chair of Canterbury Commemoration Society then guided her to the statue and introduced her to sculptor Christine Charlesworth, whose artwork was chosen by the public from a shortlist of four maquette.
“Give it a hefty tug,” he told the Queen as she pulled the large maroon drape off with the help of Evelyn Cornell, 12.
After unveiling the impressive statue, Camilla remarked “she looks rather shy” as Mr Ross pointed out that Ms Behn’s hand was tucked behind her back.
Camilla then headed inside the Beaney, a popular museum, library, art gallery and visitor information centre, where she observed a story time session inside the Orange Room.
Pupils from St Peter’s Primary School were learning how writing has changed as they explored a type writer, Canterbury Council’s first ever laptop and letter press printing.
Spotting the equipment, the Queen said: “Oh my goodness, is this an old typewriter?” She then bent down to speak to the children, asking: “How are you getting on? Is it a bit archaic?”
In the library, the Queen spotted her son Tom Parker Bowles’ latest book ‘Cooking and the Crown’ on display on one of the shelves and proudly said: “That’s my son’s book!”
She then met children listening to a reading from Michael Morpugo’s There Once Is a Queen and was told that the author is a local hero and has his own dedicated bookcase.
“All of my grandchildren have read the whole lot” she said, before telling the youngsters to “keep on reading”.
In the Explorers Gallery, Her Majesty watched members of the Royal Shakespeare Company perform an extract from Aphra Behn’s play ‘The Rover’.
Ahmed Raza, nine, and Emily Corbett, 12, two young winners of Canterbury Festival’s Poet of the Year competition, then took to the stage to read their poems.
After a warm round of applause, television presenter Gyles Brandreth, President of the Aphra Behn Society, took to the stage and said the pair “give us hope for the future” before reading one of Aphra’s poems.
The Queen viewed a first edition of Aphra Behn’s ‘Oroonoko’ novel and signed the Visitors’ book before heading to outside just as it started to drizzle.
She thanked her hosts before spending 15 minutes greeting the huge crowds that had formed outside the building.
Ena Chapman, 53, said she had waited two hours outside in the cold to see the Queen but said: “It was worth it, I love the Royal Family.”
As she approached her car to leave, the crowd gave a spontaneous three cheers for Her Majesty.
Last November, Buckingham Palace posted on social media alongside a montage of images of the Queen's much loved companion and late pet, Beth.
The Palace wrote: "A sad farewell to Beth, the Queen's much-loved companion from @Battersea-Dogs and Cats Home who brought such joy, whether on walkies, helping on official duties or curled up by the fire."
It is understood Beth had an untreatable tumour and had to be put down.
Beth and another terrier, Bluebell, were adopted by Camilla from the Battersea Dogs And Cats Home in 2011 and 2012 respectively.
Beth, along with Bluebell, was so loved by the Queen that she even featured on her coronation gown, with goldwork motifs of the two dogs embroidered into the historic dress.
