Britain's royals were gathering at their country retreat Wednesday for Christmas as Queen Elizabeth II mourned the death of one of her beloved corgis, reportedly killed by her daughter's dog.
The queen, convalescing after knee and facial surgery earlier in December, was said to be "absolutely devastated" over the death of Pharos, who The Sun said was savaged by Princess Anne's English bull terrier, called Dotty.
"His death has left her deeply saddened," said a royal insider quoted by The Sun on Wednesday.
"The incident has certainly put a damper on the Christmas holiday," said the unnamed source.
Buckingham Palace refused to comment on the alleged incident, which was said to have happened on Monday afternoon as the royal family gathered for Christmas at Sandringham in Norfolk, east England.
According to The Sun the bull terrier attacked Pharos, injuring the corgi's legs, when Dotty ran to greet Anne on her arrival at Sandringham in east England.
Pharos was treated by royal vets and kept in intensive care overnight but had to be put down, The Sun said.
Princess Anne became the first British royal to be given a criminal record in November last year when she was fined, reportedly for allowing Dotty -- short for Dorothy -- to attack two children in Windsor Great Park, west of London.
The queen's passion for her beloved corgis is well documented and the small Welsh farm dogs are often seen with her on official duties.
Chipper, one of the queen's earlier dorgis -- a cross between a dachshund and a corgi -- was attacked and killed by the late Queen Mother's corgi, Ranger.
The Sun claimed in 1999 that the queen demoted a royal footman for allegedly spiking a corgi's water with whiskey and gin.
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