The Prince and Princess of Wales’ dog Orla might prefer to keep a low profile, as she’s only been pictured with them and their children on a few occasions. But that hasn’t stopped this beautiful black Cocker Spaniel from stealing the hearts of the masses.
The couple is believed to have welcomed Orla into their home in 2020 shortly before their previous black spaniel, Lupo, passed away during the same year.
It’s no secret that the royal family are great dog lovers. From the late Queen Elizabeth II, who owned 30 Pembroke Welsh Corgis during her reign, to Prince Harry and Meghan, who have a beagle and a Labrador.
To discover everything there is to know about Orla, stick right here. Plus, if you’re considering adopting a Cocker Spaniel, we spoke to our vet, Dr Rebecca MacMillan, who shared the temperament, how much exercise this breed needs, and whether they get on well with other dogs.
Will and Kate’s Cocker Spaniel dog
Lupo and Orla are the two black cocker spaniels that Will and Kate have shared during their time together.
Both Lupo and Orla were given to the couple as a present by the princess’s brother James Middleton, who is renowned for his love of dogs, as highlighted in his memoir, Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life.
Lupo was gifted to the couple as a pup in 2011 as a wedding present, and Orla expanded their family in 2020. Sadly, this was just months before Lupo, who was nine years old at the time, passed away in November 2020.
In a personal statement, Prince William and Kate took to Instagram to share the news, with a caption stating: “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.”
It’s believed Orla, now five, was bred from a litter of puppies from Lupo's sister, Luna, and her name carries a very apt meaning.
In Celtic, the name Orla means ‘golden princess’, so you could say it reflects the couple's titles, the Prince and Princess of Wales, perfectly.
Orla has only been seen by the public on a few occasions. The latest was on April 11th, 2025, when the beautiful spaniel was shared on the Prince and Princess of Wales’ Instagram account to help mark National Pet Day.
The picture racked up more than 230,000 likes and was captioned: “Celebrating the animals who bring so much joy, companionship and love to our lives this #NationalPetDay”.
The time before that, Orla was spotted running alongside Will and Kate and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, in a woodland area and along a beach as part of the princess’s cancer update video on September 9th.
Another rare glimpse was when Orla was pictured posing in Princess Charlotte’s seventh birthday photos, in 2022, which were taken by her mother, Kate. In the images, you can see the Princess hugging her beloved pooch surrounded by a field of purple flowers.
Surprise new member?
On March 30th, 2025, Kate released a video to celebrate Mother’s Day, with the caption: “Over the past year, nature has been our sanctuary. This Mother’s Day, let us celebrate Mother Nature and recognise how our bond with the natural world can help not only nurture our inner selves, but remind us too of the role we play within the rich tapestry of life.”
The video showed clips of Kate with her palms pressed onto a tree, barley flowing in the wind, flowers blooming, and a ladybird crawling in the grass. But while the touching Mother’s Day message wasn’t lost, the eagle-eyed amongst us also noticed that a brown Cocker Spaniel was captured running alongside Will and Kate’s dog Orla.
This sighting resulted in several royal fans speculating as to whether the Prince and Princess had adopted a new dog. However, the Daily Mail was quick to get to the bottom of the speculation, revealing that the pup was one of Kate’s brother’s dogs.
Cocker Spaniel temperament
“Cocker Spaniels can make great family pets, provided they receive enough daily exercise and the right training,” vet Dr Rebecca MacMillan highlights. “These compact dogs are friendly, loyal, and playful, which are all qualities that most families look for.”
They are also known and loved for being one of the best dog breeds for companionship and the best dogs for families.
“Thanks to their sweet and affectionate nature, Cockers are usually good with children,” Dr MacMillan adds. “They are also not intimidating in size, which is a particular bonus for families with younger children.”
Another brilliant characteristic about Cocker Spaniels is that they can get on well with other dogs and other pets, provided they have had the right positive interactions and socialization from a young age.
“Just bear in mind that they can have a high prey drive, particularly the working types, so you may need to be careful about them taking too much interest in birds and small furries,” Dr MacMillan highlights.
However, either way you look at it, Cocker Spaniels are intelligent and straightforward to train, although they can sometimes be distracted. Therefore, according to Dr MacMilian, these dogs would be best suited to a family that has the time to keep them mentally stimulated.
“They will enjoy regular short training sessions, puzzle toys, obedience classes, and agility. Most Cocker Spaniels will need at least 60-90 minutes of exercise each day, including some off-leash time. This means that they will do best with a reasonably active family who have a love of the great outdoors – just like Will and Kate,” the vet adds.
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