King Charles and Queen Camilla to get a new dog

King Charles has revealed that he and Queen Camilla plan to get a new dog after the death of her beloved Jack Russell, Beth.

The monarch was speaking to television presenters Amanda Holden and Alan Carr after the Royal Variety Performance on Friday night when he mentioned they were hoping to find a new four-legged friend.

The Queen is said to be devastated after being forced to put Beth, 13, a Battersea Dogs and Cats Home rescue, to sleep just over a week ago after she was diagnosed with an inoperable tumour and her condition rapidly went downhill.

It comes on top of her being forced to pull out of several public engagements, including the Royal Variety Performance, after suffering from the lingering after-effects of a nasty chest infection.

But in a piece of good news, Holden - who is an ambassador for the world famous animal rescue centre in London and has met Camilla, it's patron, several times previously - revealed of her and Carr's chat with the King after the show: '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.' Carr joked: 'Always working.'

The Britain's Got Talent Judge said she had just rescued a puppy from Battersea herself, Minnie, who is a Shih Tzu and a toy spaniel.

Carr also rescued a dog in the same week, a profoundly deaf half lurcher half whippet.

It comes as Highgrove, the King's country estate in Gloucestershire, revealed it is bringing out a range of charity Christmas ornaments that includes a likeness of Beth.

The handmade dog, wearing a red bandana decorated with a crown, can be snapped up alongside one of Camilla's other remaining terrier, Bluebell. Both are new additions to the Highgrove shop this year, before Beth's illness was known.

Embellished with gold metal thread work and sequins, the decorations cost £12.95 each.

They were recently placed on a tree at the estate's shop and can be snapped up by royal fans online.

Charles's charity, The King's Foundation, is the custodian of Highgrove Gardens, with all proceeds from Christmas events at the estate, as well as online shopping, supporting its work.

The foundation runs education workshops onsite for traditional and endangered crafts such as millinery, embroidery and woodworking.

Her Majesty had to make the difficult decision to put the adorable Jack Russell to sleep at the age of 13 after being diagnosed with cancer.

She adopted the then 12-week-old pup in August 2011 after falling in love with her picture in an email sent to her by Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.

Camilla, who became patron of the charity in 2016, told the Mail at the time: 'I couldn't resist her. She is gorgeous. It is so exciting. I can't wait for her to meet the family.'

She already had two elderly Jack Russells, Tosca and Rosie, who have both since passed away.

Beth quickly got her paws under the table and, in a remarkable canine rags-to-riches 'tail', found herself on route in a chauffeur-drive car to Balmoral just weeks after being handed into the rescue centre.

Read More

Inside Queen Camilla's sweet relationship with her 'very special' rescue dog Beth

Camilla had already mentioned to them that she was keen to find a replacement for her beloved Freddy, another Jack Russell who died three years before at the grand old age of 21.

Like all clients she had to pay a standard £105 rehoming fee and undergo a 'home vetting' procedure by the centre's staff.

They carried out throughout background checks of Highgrove and Raymill, Camilla's private Wiltshire home, where the new pup was to largely live.

She was named Beth by the dogs' home staff and the Duchess of Cornwall, as Camilla was then, decided it suited her so well that she decided to keep it.

At the time, a source said: 'Trust me, she will have a wonderful life. Beth has most definitely fallen on her paws.'

She was later joined by another Battersea dog, Bluebell.

Beth often accompanied her royal master on visits, particularly in Wiltshire, and in 2022 joined her on a visit to Battersea's Brands Hatch branch with the late television star Paul O'Grady.

She and Beth took part in a canine showdown against Battersea ambassador O'Grady and his dog, Sausage, playing a dog training game known as 'Temptation Alley'.They were encouraged to ignore dog treats and toys and run straight to their own at the other side.

Beth won, and was given a trophy for her efforts.

She also once helped Camilla to unveil a plaque at Battersea - with the help of a hidden piece of sausage - much to the royal's delight.

In a social media post, Buckingham Palace said last Monday that the Queen had to say a 'sad farewell to Beth', her 'much loved companion...who brought such joy, whether on walkies, helping on official duties or curled up by a fire'.

A source added: 'It's very sad news.'