Royals and their dogs: 21 photos of royal families from around the world with their pet pooches

From Sheikh Hamdan's pet Baloo to Queen Elizabeth II's corgis and Norway's royal labradoodles

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, with a family dog in a throwback post shared by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai. Instagram / Faz3

Baloo, Sheikh Hamdan's dog, is seen here being held by Mohammed bin Ahmed Jaber Al Harbi, known as Maj, the son of the Crown Prince's friend Ahmed Jaber Al Harbi. Instagram / Faz3

Queen Elizabeth II with some of her corgis walking the Cross Country course during the second day of the Windsor Horse Trials in 1980. Reuters

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, with a newborn Prince George in August 2013. Tilly the retriever, a Middleton family pet, and Lupo, the couple's late cocker spaniel, can also be seen. AFP

Japan's Crown Princess Masako and her husband Crown Prince Naruhito with their pet dog Yuri at Togu Palace in Tokyo in December 2018. AFP

Norway's Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Prince Sverre Magnus and Princess Ingrid Alexandra pose with their labradoodle dogs Milly Kakao and Muffins Krakebolle during their holiday on the island of Dvergsoya, near Kristiansand, in July 2020. AFP

Mohammed Zahir Shah of Afghanistan relaxing with his dog circa 1960. Getty Images

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, carries her Jack Russell dog Bluebell as she arrives at Battersea Dog and Cats Home on December 12, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images

Prince Charles with his labrador retriever in 1978. Shutterstock

This undated photo shows Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died in 2016, and his dogs at the Royal Palace in Bangkok. AFP

Prince Carl Philip, Princess Sofia and Prince Alexander with Siri in 2016. Erika Gerdemark / Royal Court of Sweden

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, with her rescue dogs, Guy and Bogart. Meghan Markle / Instagram

Dutch royals King Willem Alexander, Queen Maxima, Princess Ariane, Princess Amalia and Princess Alexia have two black labradors, including Nala. AFP

Queen Margrethe of Denmark and the late Prince Consort Henrik pose with their dachshund dogs Evita and Celimene in August 2001. AFP

Edward, Duke of Windsor, and his wife, Wallis, Duchess of Windsor, arrive with pet pugs at Saint-Lazare train station in Paris, in May 1960. AFP

King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia with their pet dog, Brandy, in December 2019. Sara Friberg / Royal Court of Sweden

A young Queen Victoria and her dog Dash, painted by George Hayter. Royal Collection Trust / Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Alexandra of Denmark with two of her pet dogs in 1901. Getty Images

Zara Phillips with Sway, the boxer. Getty Images

Princess Anne has owned a number of bull terrier dogs. She is seen here driving her Land Rover Discovery as she attends the Gatcombe Horse Trials at Gatcombe Park in March 2019. Getty Images

A dog, they say, is man's best friend. And the saying certainly applies to sheikhs, kings, queens, princes and princesses the world over, who have historically strong bonds with their canine friends.

From Dubai's Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid's throwback photo with a pet pooch, to Japan's Empress Masako and her husband Emperor Naruhito with their pet dog Yuri, here, we celebrate royals from around the world with their beloved pets.

Click through the gallery above to see international royals, from past and present, with their pet dogs. 

This week, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge announced the sad death of their family dog, Lupo, a black English cocker spaniel.

The British royal family has a long tradition of owning dogs, from the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and their pugs, to Queen Elizabeth II and her beloved corgis.

In her lifetime, Queen Elizabeth II is thought to have owned more than 30 corgis, including Monty, Emma, Linnet, Willow and Holly. Her last corgi died in 2018. She has also owned cocker spaniels and dorgis, which are dachshund-corgi crossbreeds.

The late Thai King Bhumibol took in Thong Daeng, which means "copper" in English, a street dog puppy who was sent to the palace after the monarch took an interest in the treatment of street dogs in the Bangkok suburb of Wang Thonglang. He went on to write a biography for Thong Daeng, describing her as "a common dog who is uncommon".