Did Kate Middleton and Prince William Officially Welcome a New Addition to Their Family?
- - Did Kate Middleton and Prince William Officially Welcome a New Addition to Their Family?
Stephanie PetitJanuary 7, 2026 at 10:57 PM
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Chris Jackson/Getty
Prince William and Kate Middleton with their children on Dec. 5, 2025 -
Kate Middleton and Prince William may have welcomed a new pet into their family
Their dog, Orla, welcomed a litter last year, and it was previously reported that they were planning to keep one of the puppies
Orla joined the family in 2020, and she's been spotted with them on several occasions since
Kate Middleton and Prince William may have celebrated the holidays with a new family member.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, both 43, are speculated to have a new pet after the family was recently spotted with two dogs. Their cocker spaniel, Orla, welcomed a litter of puppies last year, and it's believed that they kept one of the litter.
Rebecca English of The Daily Mail previously reported that welcoming the puppies was "something fun" for the Prince and Princess of Wales' three children — Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7 — and that they were planning to keep one of the dogs.
William and Kate officially confirmed the arrival of Orla's litter with a photo released on June 21 to celebrate the Prince of Wales' birthday. The snap, which showed Prince William sitting on the grass with three puppies around his lap, was signed: "Love C, G, C, L, Orla and the puppies!"
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty
Kate Middleton and Prince William with their dog Orla in 2022
Orla joined the Prince and Princess of Wales' family in 2020, a gift from Kate's brother, James Middleton, after his dog Luna welcomed a litter of six puppies.
Shortly after Orla's arrival, Kate and William mourned the death of their dog Lupo, another black cocker spaniel that they received from James. James wrote in his memoir, Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life, that Lupo was a "belated wedding present" for his sister and brother-in-law, who married in April 2011.
In 2018, the royal couple opened up about the important role that Lupo played in their lives during a difficult time.
Natalie Bressani, who met the couple at a Christmas party at Kensington Palace for military families, said, "When Prince William was away in the Falkland Islands, he went for dinner with some good friends of ours in the Air Force, and he was saying how difficult it was for Kate because he was leaving for six weeks. It was when they’d just got the spaniel to help her with the time apart. She appreciates what wives and families go through.”
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty
Kate Middleton and Prince William with their dog Orla in 2022
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Orla has joined the family for outdoor outings such as charity polo matches, and the pup also appeared in Princess Charlotte's birthday portraits in two different years.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”