Celebrating with Puppies

Prince William recently celebrated his 43rd birthday, and Kensington Palace marked the day with a cheerful photo showing him relaxing with Orla and her new puppies. The post read: “Happy birthday! Love C, G, C, L, Orla and the puppies!”—a sweet nod from Catherine and their children.

Orla, a black cocker spaniel gifted to the family by Kate’s brother, James Middleton, has become a mother to four puppies.

Orla’s Place in the Family

Orla has made frequent appearances in family life. For National Pet Day in April, the Wales family posted a playful photo of her dripping wet after what was likely a muddy adventure, along with a caption celebrating the pets “who bring so much joy, companionship and love to our lives.”

Another notable appearance was in a birthday portrait of Princess Charlotte when she turned seven, showing her hugging Orla in Norfolk during a long weekend.

A Royal Love for Animals

The family’s bond with animals echoes the late Queen Elizabeth II’s well-known affection for pets, particularly her corgis and horses. Her Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022 featured more than 100 corgis parading through London—a tribute to her lifelong love of the breed.

Queen Elizabeth famously had dozens of corgis during her reign, prompting Princess Diana to once jokingly describe them as a “moving carpet” around her feet.