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.”
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.”
Orla has its own royal ties, as it means “golden princess” in Celtic.
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.
One of the sweetest details about Prince William and Kate Middleton’s family life is their love for their pets, especially their beloved cocker spaniel, Orla. During a visit to Duchy College in Cornwall, Prince William charmed a fan with his affection for dogs, revealing a special bond he and Kate share with Orla. It turns out that their furry friend often sleeps with them in their bed!
Louise Harland, the fan William spoke with, shared that the Prince was absolutely smitten with her own dog, Jacks, during their encounter. “He said that his little dog sleeps on the bed with them at night, with him and Kate,” Harland explained, adding that William took a particular interest in her pet, asking about his breed and noting how soft his ears were.
Orla joined the royal family in 2020, a gift from Kate’s younger brother, James Middleton, after his dog Luna had a litter of puppies. The adorable cocker spaniel quickly became a cherished member of the family, making her first public appearance in 2022 in a royal birthday portrait for Princess Charlotte. The name Orla, meaning “golden princess” in Celtic, certainly fits her royal surroundings.
The family’s love for dogs runs deep, as they were devastated by the loss of their previous cocker spaniel, Lupo, in 2020. In a heartfelt tribute shared on social media, the royals expressed their sorrow, writing, “He has been at the heart of our family for the past nine years, and we will miss him so much.”
Since joining the family, Orla has occasionally been spotted accompanying the royals to events, including the Royal Charity Polo Cup last summer. However, she isn’t the only pet in the household. Earlier this year, during a visit to Woodgate Valley Urban Farm, Prince William revealed that the couple’s three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—also have a pet guinea pig. William playfully admitted that the children often forget to clean its cage, leaving the task to him.
From their shared love of animals to their down-to-earth family moments, it’s clear that pets like Orla hold a special place in the lives of the Prince and Princess of Wales, adding warmth and joy to their already full family life.
