Famous Basenji owners

In 1947 King Farouk of Egypt (at that time Egypt was still a Monarchy) approached Veronica Tudor Williams with a view to purchasing two Basenjis. After consultation, with Veronica and the King, Farouk’s envoy said the King had now decided to have four puppies. Veronica and Mirrie Cardew her then Kennel Assistant with puppies tucked under their arms later delivered them to the airport where the puppies each had an individual seat for the flight to Egypt. So this dog of the Pharaohs was returning from hence it came, to a ‘Pharaoh’ and in Royal Style

In 1955 Warner Brothers were to make a film of the American best selling book “Goodbye My Lady” written by James Street. This is the story of a lonely boy and the strange stray dog that doesn’t bark, who the boy befriends, trains, hunts with and experiences many adventures and ultimately a sad parting. The film was to start shooting in August of 1955 and star of the show was a Basenji bitch exported to Hollywood by Veronica Tudor Williams and called My Lady of the Congo. The other star was to be the 13 year old, then famous boy actor, Brandon de Wilde who when filming was completed would get to keep Lady as his own. Other stars were Walter Brennan, Phil Harris and Sidney Poitier. The film was a huge success and Lady lived with and was much loved by Brandon until her death some 10 years later. Brandon himself died in a road accident at age 30



 HM the Queen Mother of Rumania's bought Royal Tan of the Congo from Miss Veronica Tudor-Williams 
Royal Tan is out of Ch Painted lady of the Congo, who is also the mother of HM King Michael of Rumania's Pageantry of the Congo and of Ch Personality of the Congo - best of breed Crufts 1959

Issue of the magazine from May 11th 1979
Queen Juliana of the Netherlands with Fula Nzara of the Congo 
Click on the photo to see a short video 

Kelsey Grammer 
(or better known as TV star Frasier Krane)





The King of Thailand, surrounded by his basenjis

05-09-13