It is no secret that the royal family (especially Queen Elizabeth II) loved dogs. In fact, almost every member of the family has one. While we often hear about the queen’s corgis, we rarely see Prince William and Kate Middleton’s family pets.
Recently, the Prince and Princess of Wales’ pet made another public appearance in the portrait they shared to celebrate Princess Charlotte’s 8th birthday. In one of the photos appears the little girl hugging the family’s black dog.
What kind of dog does Prince William have?
Since they got married and had children, dogs have been very present in William and Kate’s life, the most famous of them was Lupo, an English cocker spaniel that appeared in several photographs as a member of the family, even in one when Prince George was just a baby.
The dog’s name comes from the Italian word for ‘wolf”. According to some reports, the Prince and Princess of Wales named their family pet Lupo after Kate Middleton’s paternal great-grandmother, Olive Christiana Lupton, whose family crest featured wolves.
Sadly Lupo died in November 2020 after nine happy years with the family. this dog was the son of Ella, Kate’s brother James Middleton’s pet. James is known for his love of animals and has a brand of dog food called “Ella & Co”. On several occasions, he spoke about the therapeutic benefits of a pet in providing companionship to those struggling with mental health difficulties.
Months after Lupo’s departure William and Kate decided to welcome Orla, a puppy of the same breed and color as their beloved Lupo, from a litter of six raised by James. Her name is a Celtic word meaning ‘golden princess’.
Since her arrival to the family she has also attended royal events and in official photos with the children of the Prince and Princess of Wales.
