Home   News   Article

Portskerra corgi set to take part in jubilee celebrations at Balmoral


By Jean Gunn

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!
Eevie Mackay and her corgi Bagel.
Eevie Mackay and her corgi Bagel.

Portskerra schoolgirl Eevie Mackay and her corgi Bagel have been invited to attend a special event at Balmoral tomorrow as part of the Queen's platinum jubilee celebrations.

Eevie, a pupil at Melvich Primary School, will be accompanied to Balmoral Castle for the corgi meet by mum Michelle Mason. Michelle explained: "Bagel got the ticket and he is allowed to take two members of staff with him."

Twelve-year-old Eevie got Bagel just before Christmas last year after her dad Bruce Mackay went to pick up the pup from a breeder in Wales. Her mum said: "She had wanted a dog for a long time and just had her heart set on a corgi."

They then joined the Corgi Society of Scotland, the group arranging the event at Balmoral which is set to host 70 Pembroke Welsh and Cardigan Welsh corgis.

The local Pembroke Welsh corgi is well-used to stardom as he has his own Instagram account – @bagelhighlandcorgi – attracting a large number of followers. Recently he was selected to take part in a photo shoot for the boutique four-star hotel Tigerlily, the flagship venue of Montpelier (Edinburgh) Limited, however due to short notice he was unable to go along.

Bagel has his own Instagram account.
Bagel has his own Instagram account.

Michelle said all the pupils at the school in Melvich absolutely love eight-month-old Bagel, a regular visitor, as he so friendly and has such a character. She takes him when she goes to pick up Eevie and brings along treats so the other pupils can give them to the popular wee dog.

As part of the school's jubilee celebrations on Thursday, Eevie dressed up as the Queen, really looking the part as she walked up with her corgi.

Michelle, who remembers the Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1977, said: "I think it is so nice for her to go to this because it is a historical event – something to tell her children when she is older."

All the corgis will meet at Balmoral tomorrow morning and will be given the chance to have a stroll around the grounds before gathering for a photo shoot on the lawn in front of the castle, followed by afternoon tea. Members of the public will be able to go and see all the dogs.

Jill McLennan from Thurso is also going along with her corgi called Pistol.

The royal family have had a long association with corgis. The Queen Mother with Honey, one of her favourite corgis, at the Castle of Mey.
The royal family have had a long association with corgis. The Queen Mother with Honey, one of her favourite corgis, at the Castle of Mey.

The Pembrook Welsh breed have a long-held history with the Queen, her father King George VI brought home the family's first corgi in 1933. Royal corgis were often to be seen at the Castle of Mey when the Queen Mother was in residence.

The Queen has owned more than 30 corgis during her 70 years on the throne.


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More