A Queen's best friend! Queen Camilla was joined by her rescue puppy Moley in a new portrait released by Buckingham Palace on Monday. Her Majesty looked every bit the doting dog mom as she held Moley in the picture, taken by Chris Jackson in the garden of the Queen's home, Ray Mill House.
The Queen rescued Moley from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, which she is patron of. The royal family's social media accounts shared the new portrait of the Queen and her pup following Her Majesty's visit to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in south London, where Camilla—wearing a blue dress with a dog clip from Van Cleef & Arpels—officially unveiled the new location for the RHS and BBC Radio 2 "Dog Garden." The garden, designed by Monty Don for the Chelsea Flower Show, is said to have been "designed as a blueprint for all the things dogs love, and will provide Battersea with a tranquil space for the rescue dogs in their care, allowing them to spend time away from the kennel environment in a serene, natural setting."
"It was a fantastic afternoon at @Battersea - we are so grateful for all that you do! 🐾 Whilst Moley was keeping cool at home, she wishes she could have been reunited with some of her old friends!" the caption alongside the portrait of the Queen and Moley read in part.
Camilla revealed in February that she "just got a new puppy," whom she said "looks just like a mole." News of the Queen's new puppy came months after the passing of her dog Beth, whom she rescued in 2011.
The royal family's social media accounts announced Beth's death last November, writing: "A sad farewell to Beth, The Queen’s much-loved companion from @Battersea Dogs and Cats Home who brought such joy, whether on walkies, helping on official duties, or curled up by the fire. 🐾." At the time, PEOPLE reported that it understood that Beth had an untreatable tumor and had to be put down.
In May, the royal family introduced the Queen's “new much-loved canine companion." Alongside a photo of the Queen cuddling Moley, the caption read: “🐶 Meet mischievous Moley, The Queen’s new much-loved canine companion who was recently adopted from @Battersea_ where Her Majesty is Patron."
Moley isn't the only new furry addition to the British royal family this year. In February, The Sun reported that King Charles had been gifted a lagotto romagnolo named Snuff. An insider told the outlet, “Charles is besotted with his puppy."