The Prince and Princess of Wales’s beloved cocker spaniel Orla has given birth to a litter of four puppies.
The royal couple’s children — Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7 — are already said to have fallen in love with the new arrivals.
A source told The Sun: “Mother and babies are doing well.”
Unlike with the arrival of royal babies, there has been no official announcement or framed notice outside Buckingham Palace — and the puppies’ names, along with the father’s identity, remain under wraps.
“We always thought the patter of tiny feet in the Wales’s household had ended, so the sound of tiny paws will have to do,” the insider added.
It is not yet known whether the family plans to keep any of the weeks-old pups, and the couple’s spokesperson has declined to comment.
“Everyone loves a new royal baby news and so new royal puppies run very close,” the source continued. “Everyone is very excited, not least the three children, who adore Orla — and Lupo before.”
Orla featured in an emotional family video last September when Princess Kate revealed her chemotherapy had ended, crediting time in nature as a key part of her cancer recovery.
The family welcomed Orla in 2020 as a gift from Kate’s brother, James Middleton, who also bred Orla’s parents and the couple’s previous dog, Lupo.
Although a much-loved part of the family, Orla has made only a few public appearances. She was featured in Princess Charlotte’s seventh birthday photos in 2022 and also pictured at a charity polo match later that year.
Last month, Kate and William posted a photo of Orla for National Pet Day, captioning it: “Celebrating the animals who bring so much joy, companionship and love to our lives.”
Their first pet dog, Lupo, was a wedding gift in 2011 and died in 2020.
James Middleton has spoken publicly about the important role dogs have played in his life, previously saying his own black cocker spaniel Ella helped him through the “depths of depression”, giving him “purpose and reassurance”.
