A great deal of people felt sorrow upon Queen Elizabeth II’s passing in 2022. She was adored by the public and the longest-reigning monarch in British history, having ruled for 70 years.
The late queen is now being honored with a monument that was recently unveiled, honoring her affection for her pet corgis!
The Queen’s new statue, together with her dogs
On Sunday, a 7-foot-tall bronze statue of Queen Elizabeth was unveiled in observance of the monarch’s 98th birthday.
In Oakham, England, the sculpture was made by artist Hywel Pratley and is situated close to the Oakham Library. It is Queen Elizabeth’s first ever permanent memorial.
Rutland City Council said that hundreds attended the unveiling. There was music from local school bands and bagpipers.
The most priceless feature of this new memorial is that the queen’s cherished Corgis pet is also depicted, immortalized in bronze by the monarch’s feet:
The city authority claims that local schoolchildren created the designs for the Corgi monuments.
In contrast to the many stern and imposing monuments of queens like Queen Victoria, Pratley stated he wanted the statue to portray the idea of Queen Elizabeth as “an almost motherly figure,” according to the New York Times.
During the unveiling, local dignitary Sarah Furness remarked, “What most of us remember about Queen Elizabeth is her warmth.” “We demonstrate Queen Elizabeth’s humanity by showcasing her affection for dogs.”
The statue’s creator claims that he intended it to be hospitable to onlookers. Pratley said, “We designed it with a bench you can sit on.” “And there’s a corgi you can pet, and I do believe that this will eventually become a selfie-encouraging statue.”
The Times reports that a number of Corgi owners brought their dogs to the unveiling, indicating that a large number of people have already visited the statue.
The history of Queen Elizabeth’s Corgis pet
For many years, the Queen’s corgis were an iconic aspect of her life and a solace during tough political and personal times. Fans all throughout the world were likewise pleased by the cute pets.
The first Corgi was acquired by the royal family in 1933 when Dookie, a dog owned by Elizabeth’s father and predecessor George VI (who was then the Duke of York), was brought home.
Dookie was reportedly extremely cantankerous, yet Elizabeth and him appeared to have a unique relationship.
Then, on her eighteenth birthday, the Queen received a Pembroke Welsh corgi of her own, named Susan.
Susan reportedly slipped under a rug in the royal carriage to disrupt the wedding of the Queen and her husband, Prince Philip, according to the BBC.
1959 saw Susan’s death at the age of almost fifteen. Her epitaph referred to her as “the faithful companion of the Queen,” and she was laid to rest at the royal estate of Sandringham House.
The Queen stated, “I had always feared losing her, but I am ever so thankful that her suffering was so mercifully brief.”
But Susan left quite the legacy; during the ensuing few decades, the Queen accumulated over thirty corgis, all descended from her original canine companion.
The Queen always had at least one corgi, and often had several at once, from 1933 until 2018. She traveled with the dogs in tow, and they resided in a designated “Corgi room” at Buckingham Palace with wicker beds. It is said that the Queen took care of them personally and baked them biscuits over the holiday season.
These canines undoubtedly received royal treatment and grew to represent the Queen throughout her life.
While Elizabeth valued the dogs greatly, Prince Philip apparently didn’t feel the same way. Like many others, she took great solace from the dogs, who served as a link to the simpler times in her early years due to their relationship with her late father and her upbringing.
According to Penny Junor, a royal biographer, “her corgis are hugely important to her.” Over time, they have become more intimate with her than any human has ever been. She has never been let down by the incredibly affectionate and devoted corgis.
It also makes sense that the Queen, who represents both Britain and the United Kingdom, would have a strong bond with a quintessential British dog. Wales, a member of the UK and a neighbor of England, is where corgis first originated. When corgis were adopted as royal dogs, the breed was rare in England; yet, the Queen had a major role in the globalization of the breed.
The Queen owned several “dorgis,” or corgis bred with daschshunds, in addition to purebred Pembroke Welsh Corgis.
When the corgis and dorgis appeared alongside Queen Elizabeth on the cover of Vanity Fair in 2016, they became well-known worldwide because to Annie Leibovitz’s photography. At the time, the dogs were Candy, Vulcan, Willow, and Holly.
A notable aspect of Queen Elizabeth’s reign and a significant aspect of her life were her corgis. Their inclusion in this first memorial statue of her seems so fitting.
My Neighbor Threw Rotten Tomatoes at My Front Door Because I Didn’t Put up Halloween Decorations ‘Soon Enough’
While my seven-year-old daughter fought for her life in the hospital with severe pneumonia, my neighbor decided to “decorate” my front door with rotten tomatoes. All because I hadn’t put up Halloween decorations early enough for her liking.
You know those days when life hits you so hard you can barely catch your breath? That’s been my reality lately. Between double shifts at the diner and spending every spare moment at the hospital with Lacey, I’ve been running on caffeine and sheer determination.
A woman standing in a hospital | Source: Midjourney
It started with what I thought was just a cold. Lacey came home from school one Tuesday with a slight cough. It didn’t look like anything serious. But by Friday night, she was burning up with a fever.
“Mommy, I don’t feel good,” she said while trying to catch her breath.
That was the point where I realized something was extremely wrong with her.
I didn’t even wait for an ambulance. I wrapped her in a blanket and drove to the ER like my life depended on it because it did. My life is Lacey.
An emergency sign outside a hospital | Source: Pexels
The doctors moved fast, thank God.
Words like “severe pneumonia,” “aggressive infection,” and “extended stay” flew around while they ran tests on her. After what seemed like an eternity, the ER doctor finally sat down with me.
“The infection’s in both lungs,” he explained gently. “She’s going to need intensive treatment. We’re looking at a minimum of three weeks in the hospital.”
“Three weeks?” I looked at him with wide eyes. “But… but I have to work. The insurance… it doesn’t cover everything.”
A woman talking to the doctor | Source: Midjourney
He squeezed my shoulder. “Let’s focus on getting her better first. You can speak with our financial department about payment plans.”
I’ve been doing this solo parent thing for five years now, ever since Mark decided his twenty-something secretary was more appealing than his family responsibilities. The divorce knocked us down hard, but my daughter Lacey and I aren’t the type of people who’d give up. We’re fighters. We didn’t let Mark’s poor decisions affect us.
I worked as a waitress and picked up extra shifts after the divorce. Living on a single income taught me how to stretch every dollar and avoid unnecessary expenses.
A person holding their empty wallet | Source: Pexels
Last year, we even managed to move into this supposedly “better” neighborhood. You know, the kind where people treat their HOA guidelines like they’re the Constitution.
“Alice, hon, you’ve got tables 4 and 6 waiting,” Maria called out during another hectic dinner shift.
She’s been my rock through all this, covering for me when hospital visits run long.
“On it!” I called back, tucking my phone deeper into my apron pocket after checking another message from Lacey’s doctors. These hospital bills were piling up faster than I could count, but what choice did I have?
My baby needed me, and I had to work harder for her.
A woman working as a waitress | Source: Pexels
“You look dead on your feet,” Maria said while refilling coffee cups. “When’s the last time you got some real sleep?”
I just shook my head. “Sleep’s a luxury I can’t afford right now. Between the hospital visits and these double shifts…”
“At least you’ve got good neighbors to help out, right?” Maria asked.
I let out a bitter laugh thinking about Carla from two doors down. That woman could give surveillance cameras a run for their money.
Ever since we moved in, she’s appointed herself as the neighborhood’s personal CNN. Carla’s Nosy Network.
An older woman standing outside her house | Source: Midjourney
Just last month, she caused a whole drama with the Hendersons across the street. They’d painted their front door navy blue. It’s a perfectly normal color, right?
Well, Carla didn’t just notice it. She measured the paint swatch against the HOA handbook, took photos at different times of day, and then sent a 500-word email to everyone about how it was “Midnight Navy” instead of the approved “Classic Navy.”
The poor Hendersons had to repaint their door to avoid a fine.
A house with a blue door | Source: Midjourney
“Remember that time she counted how many people came to Janet’s book club?” I told Maria. “She actually reported Janet to the HOA for ‘running a business from home’ because there were more than six cars parked on the street. It was a book club, for heaven’s sake!”
Carla’s the type who doesn’t just check her mailbox. She watches everyone else check theirs too. She keeps a literal notebook of when people bring their trash cans in and out.
I swear I’ve seen her peeking through her blinds so often.
A person’s hand on window blinds | Source: Pexels
That’s why I wasn’t surprised when she started blowing up our HOA group chat about Halloween preparations in mid-September.
Every day brought a new message about “maintaining neighborhood standards” and “preserving property values through seasonal charm.”
But with Lacey in the hospital, festive decorations were the last thing on my mind.
That’s when my phone buzzed again. Another message from Carla, but this time sent directly to me. My heart raced when the notification popped up on my screen.
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read her text.
A woman reading a message on her phone | Source: Midjourney
Are you special or something? Why isn’t your house decorated for Halloween? It’s almost the end of October, and your house is the only one ruining the vibe. Do you want to spoil Halloween for the whole neighborhood? It’s embarrassing.
I had to read it twice to believe someone could be this insensitive.
I took a deep breath before typing out a response, trying my best to keep it professional despite my rising anger.
A woman using her phone | Source: Pexels
Carla, I’m sorry I haven’t decorated. I’ve been in the hospital with my daughter for two weeks now. She’s really sick, and all my money’s gone to medicine and bills. I’m not sure I’ll be able to put anything up this year.
Well, I didn’t get a response from Carla, so I thought she must’ve found something else to worry about. I had no idea how wrong I was.
After three long weeks, Lacey was finally well enough to come home.
A woman driving | Source: Pexels
We pulled into our driveway at sunset as we discussed how good it’d feel to finally sleep in our beds.
That’s when the smell hit us. A putrid, sickening odor that made my stomach turn.
Our front door was completely covered in smashed, rotten tomatoes. The red pulp dripped down the wood and seeds stuck in every crevice. But the pièce de résistance? A note was taped right in the middle. It read:
Now at least it looks a bit like Halloween. No need to thank me.
A door with a note smeared in tomato pulp | Source: Midjourney
“Mommy, why does our house smell bad?” Lacey asked.
I didn’t have an answer to my daughter’s innocent question. I was so angry that my feet were almost shaking.
I got Lacey settled inside despite the garage, made sure she was comfortable in bed, and then stormed over to Carla’s house. I could see her peeking through her blinds as I approached.
When she opened the door, that smug smile on her face made me want to scream.
“Oh, hey there. Enjoying the Halloween decorations?” she asked.
An older woman smiling | Source: Midjourney
“Are you kidding me, Carla?” I snapped. “I told you what I was dealing with. You know my daughter’s been in the hospital, and you still did this?”
She rolled her eyes like I was being dramatic. “Look, I just thought you were making excuses. Everyone decorates, and it’s unfair for you to spoil it for the rest of us. I thought a little tomato juice might remind you to get into the spirit. You didn’t put up the decorations soon enough. Not my fault.”
An older woman talking to her neighbor | Source: Midjourney
Before I could respond, her husband Dan appeared behind her. He was horrified after hearing his wife’s confession.
“Carla, what the hell is wrong with you?” he demanded. “You did what?”
The next few minutes were pure chaos.
Dan pulled Carla inside, and I could hear him confront her. The muffled argument was punctuated by phrases like “completely unacceptable” and “lost your mind.”
When Dan returned to the door, his face was red with embarrassment.
A close-up shot of an older man’s face | Source: Midjourney
“I’m so sorry,” he said. “I had no idea she’d do something like this. I’ll clean up your door and pay for any damages. Carla, you better apologize right now.”
Carla emerged and muttered what had to be the most insincere apology I’d ever heard.
But this isn’t where the story ends. Karma intervened a few hours later and taught her an unforgettable lesson.
That night, the strongest storm of the season hit our neighborhood.
A stormy sky | Source: Pexels
The wind howled like a banshee, and the rain came down in sheets. When I looked out my window the next morning, I couldn’t help but laugh at the irony.
Carla’s elaborate Halloween display – the one she’d been bragging about for weeks – was absolutely decimated. Her precious inflatable decorations were scattered across three yards, her meticulously carved pumpkins had turned to mush in the rain, and her collection of “premium” skeletons lay broken and tangled in the bushes.
Mother Nature had delivered the perfect revenge.
Broken Halloween decor | Source: Midjourney
Dan followed through on his promise, showing up early the next day with cleaning supplies and groceries.
“I can’t apologize enough,” he said while scrubbing the last bits of tomato off my door. “How’s your daughter doing?”
“She’s getting stronger every day,” I replied. “Thanks for asking. And thanks for, uh, everything else.”
Carla hasn’t spoken a word to me since then and I’ve been loving the silence. When I pass by her house these days and see her bare lawn, I can’t help but smile a little.
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