When Ratan Tata Skipped British Royal Honour For His Ailing Dog

Renowned industrialist Ratan Tata, the chairman emeritus of Tata Sons, died on October 9 at the age of 86. Beyond his numerous monumental contributions to the business world, he was also known for his love towards animals, especially dogs. In fact, his commitment towards their welfare was so strong that he even skipped a ceremony organised by the British Royal Family to stay at home with his ailing dog.

In 2018, King Charles III, then Prince Charles, and the Royal Family organised a prestigious award ceremony at the Buckingham Palace to honour Mr Tata's exceptional philanthropic work. The ceremony, scheduled for February 6, 2018, was hosted by the British Asian Trust.

Mr Tata was to receive the lifetime achievement honour and had even confirmed his attendance initially. However, to everyone's surprise, he cancelled his travel plans days before the event after one of his beloved dogs got sick. Mr Tata stayed home to take care of his pet.

Businessman Suhel Seth first spoke about the time he got multiple missed calls from the philanthropist after he landed in London. When he called back, Mr Tata told Mr Seth that he would skip the event, because he had to be with his pet.

"Tango and Tito, my dogs-one of them has fallen terribly ill. I can't leave him and come," Mr Tata told Mr Seth back then.

Although Mr Seth tried his best to convince Mr Tata to change his mind, emphasising the grandeur of the event, he remained unsuccessful in changing his decision to prioritise his dog over the high-profile public gathering.

Not just that, Mr Seth further said that when Prince Charles (now King Charles) was told about Mr Tata's decision, he was impressed. Remembering Prince Charles' words, Mr Seth said, "That's a man. That's the man Ratan is. That's why the house of Tata is what it is."

Mr Tata, who remained active on multiple social media platforms, frequently advocated for the welfare of stray animals and urged people to be sensitive to their needs.