Both Beth and Bluebell have joined Their Majesties at various engagements over the years, including photo shoots and official portraits, and the unveiling of a plaque to mark the opening of new kennels at Battersea Dogs and Cats home in 2020. Beth, who was more interested in a sausage that had been tied to the rope that was used to unveil the plaque than she was the engagement itself, was known for being friendly and affectionate and particularly good with Queen Camilla’s five young grandchildren. In one image shared by the Royal Family, Beth is seen kissing King Charles’s nose as he bends down to pet her.
Beth was also something of a TV star having appeared on the show For the Love of Dogs in 2022 when she took part in a “loyalty duel” with the late presenter Paul O’Grady and his dog.
Camilla has always been a dog lover and is a fan of the Jack Russell breed in particular. In an interview with Radio Five Live, she told host Emma Barnett, “The nice thing about dogs is you can sit them down, you could have a nice long conversation, you could be cross, you could be sad and they just sit looking at you wagging their tail.”
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home also paid tribute to Beth on Monday. “We’re sad to hear that Beth, HM The Queen’s rescue dog, has passed away. Her Majesty, our Patron, rehomed Beth from Battersea in 2011 and we have many fond memories of Beth visiting our centres over the years. Our thoughts are with Their Majesties at this time,” they wrote on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).