Corgis gather at Palace to remember Queen Elizabeth as Sunak joins King in Scotland

Ruffus a Cardiganshire Corgi takes part in a parade of corgi dogs in memory of the late Queen Elizabeth II, outside Buckingham Palace. Credit: AP

Corgis have gathered at Buckingham Palace to remember Queen Elizabeth ahead of the first anniversary of her death, as King Charles followed her tradition by meeting the prime minister in Balmoral Castle.

A parade of 20 corgis dressed up in crowns, tiaras and royal outfits in celebration of the late queen, who owned 30 of the dogs during her 96 years.

They were the late queen’s constant companions since she was a child, and generations of the dogs descended from Susan, a corgi that was given to the queen on her 18th birthday.

Queen Elizabeth II speaks with members of the Manitoba Corgi Association, during a visit to Winnipeg, Tuesday, October 8, 2002. Credit: AP
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September 8 will mark one year since her death at her Balmoral Castle estate in Scotland, which brought an end to her 70-year reign - the longest of any UK monarch.

Her son Charles was at the castle this weekend with Queen Camilla, meeting Rishi Sunak at Crathie Kirk, a nearby church, to attend a traditional Sunday service.

The King, wearing a kilt, sat next to the Queen, who wore a green coat and hat and clutched a beige handbag on her lap, as they were driven to the 19th century parish church, which overlooks the River Dee.

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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrives at Crathie Kirk, near Balmoral, for a Sunday church service Credit: Paul Campbell/PA

They were also joined at the church by Charles’s sister the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.

The royals are days away from the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death and the King’s accession on September 8.

Mr Sunak’s stay at Balmoral Castle – an annual September tradition for sitting prime ministers – comes as he prepares for Parliament to return on Monday after the summer recess.

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The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence arriving at church Credit: Paul Campbell/PA

Charles followed his late mother’s custom by inviting the Prime Minister to join him at his Aberdeenshire retreat, where the royal family spend time each summer.

Former prime minister David Cameron once said there was not much “chillaxing” – chilling out and relaxing – at the castle, with the royals spending their time on outdoor pursuits.

Years of memories have been forged at Balmoral, including of family barbecues – where Prince Philip, the late duke of Edinburgh, did the cooking and the late queen did the washing-up.

The late queen welcoming then-prime minister Liz Truss during an audience at Balmoral days before the monarch died Credit: PA

At royal residences, servants meticulously unpack luggage for guests.

Cherie Blair said in her autobiography her son Leo was conceived at Balmoral after she left her contraception at home out of embarrassment before her annual weekend stay there with husband and then-prime minister Sir Tony Blair.

“In 1998 – I had been extremely disconcerted to discover that everything of mine had been unpacked,” she wrote.

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Balmoral Castle, where the royals often spend the summer Credit: PA

“Not only my clothes, but the entire contents of my distinctly ancient toilet bag with its range of unmentionables.

“This year I had been a little more circumspect, and had not packed my contraceptive equipment out of sheer embarrassment.

“As usual up there, it had been bitterly cold, and what with one thing and another…”