King Charles gives update after Queen Camilla’s heartbreaking loss of beloved companion

Queen Camilla revealed that her much-loved Jack Russell terrier Beth had died last week in a poignant Instagram post – and King Charles has now given an update on their plans after the dog’s death

King Charles has revealed his and Queen Camilla’s plans following the sad loss of one of their much-loved companions.

Just days ago, it was announced that Camilla’s beloved Jack Russell dog Beth had died after being diagnosed with an untreatable tumour and having to be put to sleep. The Queen rescued Beth from Battersea Cats and Dogs Home in 2011 along with her other Jack Russell, Bluebell. On announcing Beth’s sad death, Camilla paid a heartbreaking tribute and shared several unseen pictures of the pet walking in the countryside and giving her husband the King a kiss on the nose.

The dog’s death came as Camilla had been trying to shake off a chest infection, which forced her to miss several engagements, including the Royal Variety Performance on Friday night, forcing Charles to attend alone. There he met this year’s hosts of the show comedian Alan Carr and Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden, who is an ambassador for the Battersea Cats and Dogs charity. And speaking after the performance, Amanda revealed how the King told her he and Camilla plan to get another dog.

She explained: “We mentioned Her Majesty and we wished her well and I gave condolences for the doggie. I felt for her, I really felt for her when that happened. He said ‘we’re going to get a new one, Merry Christmas ‘. That’s what he said and I said yes, but get it from Battersea please.”

It comes as it has also emerged that the King’s country estate Highgrove has been decorated for Christmas, with a sweet nod to Beth. Among the tree ornaments is an embroidered motif of the Jack Russell. The handmade likeness of Beth, wearing a red bandana decorated with a crown, and one of Camilla’s other terrier Bluebell, complete with a crown on the dog’s head, are new additions to the Highgrove shop this year.

Camilla adopted Beth from Battersea Cats and Dogs home back in 2011 when she was just 12 weeks old after being found tied to a lamppost. The Queen previously told Radio 5 Live: “Along I went to Battersea, and Beth appeared, and she had just been moved from pillar to post and dumped.”

A year later she also adopted Beth’s companion, another Jack Russell called Bluebell. Camilla added: “We thought it would be nice for her [Beth] to have a friend. They found [Bluebell] two or three weeks later, wandering about in woods, no hair on her, covered in sores, virtually dead. And they nursed her back to life and her hair grew again.”

Both Beth and Bluebell made history two years ago when they both became the first rescue dogs to move into Buckingham Palace. In 2020, the two dogs appeared in a memorable snap shared to mark Charles and Camilla’s 15th wedding anniversary, with them both being cuddled by their owners during a trip to Birkhall in Balmoral.

That same year, Beth also took part in a historic first when she unveiled a plaque during Camilla’s first visit to the Battersea Dogs and Cats rescue centre Windsor branch. Camilla scooped Beth up in her arms and took her over to the plaque curtain, where a sausage had been attached to the rope cord. Laughing as Beth grabbed hold of the sausage and pulled, Camilla cheered “brilliant” as the curtain fell away, revealing the plaque.