How the Prince and Princess of Wales have expanded their brood with adorable four-legged friends - after their toughest year
Prince William celebrated his 43rd birthday on June 21, and in keeping with tradition, a previously unseen photograph of the royal was shared on social media.
The sweet snap shows the Prince of Wales sitting in a field, while playing with a group of small puppies. In the image, the father-of-three is dressed casually, wearing jeans paired with a long-sleeved green button down shirt, as the pooches crawl over him sweetly.
With its casual look - and adorable subjects - the canines paint a positive portrait after what has been a very difficult year for the family, with both the Princess of Wales and the King being treated for cancer.
It is believed that the Wales welcomed the puppies to their family earlier this year, after their dog Orla gave birth to them.
Kate's brother James Middleton, who is well known for breeding dogs, is believed to have gifted Orla to the family in 2020.
When it was revealed in May that the pooch had given birth to four puppies, it was reported that the royal children - George, 11, Charlotte, 10, and seven-year-old Louis - were 'in love' with the pooches.
At the time, a source told The Sun: 'We always thought the patter of tiny feet in the Wales's household had ended, so the sound of tiny paws will have to do.'
They added that Orla and her puppies are all 'doing well'.
The names of the four new additions have yet to be revealed, and it is not known if the Wales family plan to keep any of the weeks-old pups.
The identity of the father is also unknown, according to reports.
The insider said: 'Everyone loves a new royal baby news and so new royal puppies run very close.
'Everyone is very excited, not least the three children, who adore Orla, and Lupo before.'
The Wales are thought to have welcomed gorgeous pooch Orla in 2020, in the same year that their former family dog, Lupo, died.
A source at the time told The Mail on Sunday that the whole family were 'besotted' with their new pup.
'They were devastated when Lupo passed away,' the friend added. 'It was hoped that a younger dog would give Lupo some company and give him a little more life and energy.'
The cocker spaniel was the puppy of James's Middleton's dog, Ella.
The younger sibling of Kate is known for his passion for pups and currently owns a whopping six dogs.
James - who is patron of several dog-related charities, founder of a dog food brand and even the author of a book about one of his beloved dogs, titled Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life - owns six pooches are called Zulu, Inka, Luna, Mabel, Nala, and Isla.
Since adopting the cocker spaniel, Orla has been a devoted friend to the couple's children and was even included in their daughter's birthday portraits in 2022 and 2023.
Orla also appeared on the Royal Family's social media channels for National Pet Day last month.
A photograph of the black cocker spaniel was shared online with the caption: 'Celebrating the animals who bring so much joy, companionship and love to our lives'.
James Middleton revealed in his 2024 book, Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life, that he gave Kate and William Orla, a black English cocker spaniel, in 2020.
It is thought that Prince William has a life-long love of dogs. As a child, he had a pet Labrador called Widgeon.
The pooch, who died in 2010, has been described as more than just a pet, and that he was a beloved member of the royal family.
His presence was especially meaningful to William and Harry, who sought comfort and companionship in the canine during their childhood.
he was a beloved member of the royal family who provided comfort and companionship to William and his brother Harry during their childhood.
Orla was not the first dog James gave to his sister and brother-in-law: some time in 2011, he tried to get his own dog Ella to breed with another cocker spaniel named Spartan.
His attempt was successful and nine weeks later, Ella gave birth to five male pups, including Lupo.
Mr Middleton recalled how he asked William and Kate if they would like one, 'as a belated wedding present'.
'All you have to do is choose your favourite,' he said to the couple.
'There in the box nestled the glossy black pups. Catherine and William bent down to stroke their tiny muzzles,' James wrote in his bestselling book.
The couple were soon set to move to Anglesey for William's work as an RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot and had to carefully consider the new addition.
'I reasoned that a puppy would be company for Catherine on the nights he was away on duty,' James added.
They eventually chose one of the puppies, and named him Lupo, who joined the growing family when he reached eight weeks old.
Lupo would become a key part of the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's home.
The couple were photographed with the six-month-old cocker spaniel at a charity polo event in Gloucestershire in 2012.
When the match was over and William had dismounted, he swept Lupo into his arms and showered the pup with kisses.
Lupo is also believed to have helped them pick a name for Prince George.
The couple are said to have written names on various pieces of paper and scattered them on the floor.
Lupo wandered through them, but stopped when he reached the prince's name.
The cocker spaniel even featured in a photo of the couple with new-born George and would go on to spend time with all three of the couple's children.
Speaking shortly after Prince George's birth in 2013, Prince William said: 'For me Catherine and now little George are my priorities, and Lupo.
'He's coping alright, as a lot of people know who've got dogs and bringing a newborn back, they take a little bit of time to adapt, but he's been alright so far, he's been slobbering around the house, so he's perfectly happy.'
Sadly, Lupo passed away at eight years old in 2020.
William and Kate shared the news on Instagram at the time and wrote: 'Very sadly last weekend our dear dog, Lupo, passed away.
'He has been at the heart of our family for the past nine years and we will miss him so much. - W & C'.
During the pandemic, James Middleton managed to breed another of his dogs, Luna, and produced a litter of six puppies.
Kate chose one of them, who she then names Orla, and the pup is still part of the Wales family today.
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