Kate Middleton & Prince William Welcomed A New Puppy With A Sweet Family Connection In 2025
Everyone loves a new puppy! For some people, there's something extra special about a royal puppy reveal, which made the introduction of Prince William and Kate Middleton's new cocker spaniel newsworthy. This pup takes the cake when it comes to pampered dogs who get treated like royalty!
Welcome to the family, Otto! 1 today 🥳 🎂 pic.twitter.com/kOOXV1rJW6
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) May 1, 2026
On May 1, 2026, the British royal family posted on social media about welcoming 1-year-old Otto into their lives, with a frame-worthy photo taken by the princess herself. The puppy is the son of Orla, a black cocker spaniel that's been part of the family since 2020 and had the litter containing Otto in 2025. Going even further back, Orla is related to the royals' first family dog, Lupo, who was a wedding present from Kate's brother James in 2011 and died in 2020.
In the comments on the official Prince and Princess of Wales' X announcement, one person called the photo, "A very majestic lion pose! 🦁" as another simply stated, "Welcome to the family, Otto Wales!" Ah, the circle of royal canine life!
Prince Williams' grandmother Queen Elizabeth II was a dog lover
Long before Prince William was photographed surrounded by puppies that included Otto, his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, was one of the world's most famous dog lovers. Her affection for dogs, especially Pembroke Welsh corgis, began when she was just a child after her father, King George VI, brought home a corgi named Dookie.
In 1944, for her 18th birthday, Elizabeth was gifted a corgi named Susan, who became the starting point for a remarkable royal dog dynasty. Over her lifetime, the queen owned more than 30 corgis and dorgis, an adorable corgi-dachshund mix she helped popularize, that are part of a long list of corgi mixes. Her dogs even enjoyed plenty of royal perks, including their own room at Buckingham Palace and meals prepared by palace chefs.
Over the queen's 70-year reign, her corgis became almost as recognizable as the monarch herself, sitting for photos and even tagging along during public appearances. After her death in 2022 at age 96, her two surviving corgis, Muick and Sandy, went to live with Prince Andrew. Clearly the royal family's love of dogs didn't end with Queen Elizabeth, as it seems like Prince William may have been bitten by the dog-loving bug too!