WOOD FARM, Sandringham Estate (Feb. 20, 2026) – Animal welfare officers took a corgi linked to the late Queen Elizabeth II into temporary care on Friday afternoon after visiting Wood Farm, the Sandringham estate residence connected to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, according to two people familiar with the arrangements.
The dog, Sandy, has been widely described in earlier coverage as one of the late Queen’s corgis that remained with her in the final years of her life and were later taken in by Andrew and Sarah Ferguson after her death in 2022.
People familiar with the decision said the trigger was not the dog’s condition but the bureaucracy that follows a sudden disruption at a household: who is the named responsible person, who can sign the forms, who can guarantee access to food, exercise and veterinary care over the next 24 to 48 hours, and who is physically present to carry that out.
A spokesperson for the local authority’s animal welfare service declined to comment on a specific case, but said temporary placements can be used when “immediate care arrangements cannot be confirmed” following a change in circumstances at a residence. The spokesperson added that such action should not be interpreted as an allegation of mistreatment.
One person close to the household said Sandy was calm during the handover and that staff were at the property. “It wasn’t dramatic,” the person said. “It was procedural. They wanted certainty.”
The dog’s royal association amplified public interest. Within hours, the phrase “in custody” — standard wording used by some services for short-term holding — was being repeated online, even as people familiar with the matter emphasised the placement was temporary.
People familiar with Friday’s visit said Sandy would receive routine checks and could be released once a caretaker is formally identified and approved — typically a family member, household staff, or an interim guardian — and the necessary documentation is completed.
