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The image of the Queen sitting alone during the funeral of her beloved Prince Philip would have melted the toughest of hearts.

Current Covid rules meant that Her Majesty was forced to sit socially distanced from her family members who otherwise may have helped to bring her some comfort and support.

The photo of the Queen alone left the nation worrying who would keep the Queen company now that her husband had gone.

One royal expert believes that the answer lies with her two dogs that she bought in February earlier this year when the Duke of Edinburgh was in hospital, reports MailOnline.

It had been reported that the Queen would no longer keep dogs but for whatever reason it seems that the plan changed.

"The thinking was enough was enough, and that she was getting too old for new dogs and who would look after them when she was gone," said Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty Magazine.

"But clearly that decision was reversed and, as it turned out, it probably is very fortuitous. I think it's useful to have these puppies in her life now as way of a distraction."

The Queen reportedly bought the two new puppies on pet-buying website Pets4Home, where she paid £2,650.

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The first puppy is a dorgi, a cross between a corgi and daschund, called Fergus and the second was a corgi called Muick

Fergus was named after Fergus Bowes-Lyon, the Queen's maternal uncle, and Muick named after Loch Muick, a lake on the Balmoral Estate in Scotland where the Queen and Prince loved to sit and relax.

The Queen who is a well known lover of horses and dogs and will be able to throw her attentions into her animals.

It is hoped that the new pups, that will no doubt keep her busy, will act as a distraction during times of unhappiness.

On Wednesday, April 21 the Queen will turn 95 but this year it will fall during a period of mourning.

Mr Little said: 'She will mark her first birthday as a widow, and 95 is quite a significant birthday.

'I don't think there would have been a fuss made of it, but nevertheless 95 is quite something. This is going to be a private day for her and that's how it should be.

'Royal mourning continues until Friday so that makes it even more of a sombre occasion.'

• Prince Philip
• Queen
• Animals
• Family
• Dogs

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