A line-up of charismatic animals, wild and domestic, starred alongside King Charles in the video tribute to David Attenborough shown in the Albert Hall on Friday night. A hedgehog, a swan, a fox and an owl all feature in the chain of couriers employed to deliver a message from the monarch to Attenborough, congratulating him on the occasion of his 100th birthday.
But one four-legged creature really stood out. The queen’s new rescue dog, Moley, swiped the limelight from them all, eclipsing even, dare one say it, His Majesty himself.
Early last year, Camilla revealed she had adopted an eight-week-old puppy who looked “just like a mole”. Asked by members of the public what breed Moley was, Camilla replied: “You may well ask, a bit of everything. It's a rescue dog.”
The puppy was born on Boxing Day to a mother believed to be a Jack Russell and terrier cross.
In the video, Moley is seen gambolling along the corridors of Balmoral Castle, while the king can be heard asking, as they head for his writing desk: “Ready? Come on. Good girl.” Moley leaps up and reappears two or three times later during a scene in which regal acting skills almost reach the heights of the late Queen’s screen interactions with Paddington Bear four years ago.
This video, full of whimsy, is just as warm and light-hearted in tone. It was made by the BBC Studios Natural History Unit and directed by Rob Hifle, with seamless visual effects pulled off by Lux Aeterna. Less kind comparisons might also be made to two famous vintage television advertisements; one for Werther’s Originals, the other for Yellow Pages, featuring the infamous fictional author of a fly-fishing volume, JR Hartley.
Moley was selected by Queen Camilla in February last year at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in south London after the death in 2024 of her previous companion, Beth, also a rescue dog.
“Battersea was delighted to see Moley's starring role in His Majesty the king's birthday greeting for Sir David Attenborough's 100th birthday,” a spokesperson for the charity said. “Moley is the third Battersea dog rehomed by Her Majesty, and it's wonderful to see rescue animals like Moley have their moment in the spotlight. We'd like to share our own warmest wishes for Sir David, from all the staff, volunteers and animals here at Battersea.”
Her Majesty, patron of the charity, shared the first image of her new dog last summer in a professional portrait released on her social media account when she visited a new Royal Horticultural Society dog garden designed for the Battersea site. She wrote: "Whilst Moley was keeping cool at home, she wishes she could have been reunited with some of her old friends."
Last year, the home took in 2,766 dogs and 2,454 cats at its three centres in London, Kent and Windsor, including 241 animals transferred from other rescues around the UK.
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Photograph by PA/Alamy