Their behaviour has not always been particularly regal towards footmen or other dogs.
But at dinner time the Queen’s beloved corgis and dorgis know their place, sitting obediently around Her Majesty as they are served individual menus that they receive in order of seniority.
The carefully tailored menus even include herbal remedies, according to an animal psychologist who worked with the royal pets.
Dr Roger Mugford, who has dealt with doggy discipline problems at Buckingham Palace for more than 20 years, said: ‘At feeding times, each dog had an individually designed menu, including an array of homeopathic and herbal remedies.
‘Their food was served by a butler in an eclectic collection of battered silver and porcelain dishes.
‘As I watched, the Queen got the corgis to sit in a semi-circle around her, and then fed them one by one, in order of seniority. The others just sat and patiently waited their turn.’