An Unexpected Family Member Shares Bed with William and Kate — And It’s Not One of Their Kids
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One of Prince William and Kate Middleton‘s family members has a special place in their hearts — and their bed!
While meeting a fan’s dog during a visit to Duchy College in Cornwall, England, on Thursday, Oct. 17, William, 42, revealed that his cocker spaniel Orla often sleeps with him and his wife, also 42, in their bed.
The supporter, Louise Harland, who was there with her dog Jacks, told Hits Radio Cornwall, per Hello!: “[William] said that his little dog sleeps on the bed with them at night, with him and Kate.”
“[He was] absolutely in love with my little dog. He asked what breed he was and he’s never met one of those breeds, he’s a Cockerjack, so he’s a little bit of a unique combination,” Harland continued.
She also said, per the outlet, that William commented on how “soft” her pet’s ears are and “gave him lots of loving.”
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The Prince and Princess of Wales initially received Orla from Kate’s younger brother, James Middleton, after he announced in May 2020 that his dog Luna had welcomed “six healthy little pups.”
The royal canine later made her debut in 2022 in a royal birthday portrait for Princess Charlotte, 9.
Orla has its own royal ties, as it means “golden princess” in Celtic.
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Orla joined the family shortly before their dog Lupo, another cocker spaniel, died in November 2020.
The family announced his death with a special tribute on social media. “He has been at the heart of our family for the past nine years and we will miss him so much,” they wrote at the time.
Since Orla joined the family, she has rarely been spotted, though she did tag along with the Prince and Princess of Wales to the Royal Charity Polo Cup last summer.
The pup isn’t the only family pet for the royals. Prince William revealed earlier this year during an appearance at Woodgate Valley Urban Farm, just outside Birmingham, that his three children also have a pet guinea pig that they sometimes forgot to clean. (Along with Princess Charlotte, William and Kate are also parents to Prince George, 11, and Prince Louis, 6.)
“Prince William said he was so happy stroking Snowflake the guinea pig at Woodgate Valley Urban Farm … that he didn’t want to leave. He revealed that his kids always forget to clean out their own guinea pig, leaving him to do it,” The Telegraph reporter Victoria Ward shared at the time.
