Inside Kensington Palace, one could imagine that everything follows impeccable protocol. However, it turns out that, at night, the British royalty shares their bed with an unconventional companion: their cocker spaniel, Orla.
During a visit to Duchy College in Cornwall, Prince William revealed, almost inadvertently, that his dog is not only part of the family but also of their most intimate moments, sleeping with him and Kate Middleton in the same bed. A curious detail that humanizes the future king of the British and brings him closer to anyone who has experienced the undeniable charm of a pet claiming their space on the pillow.
This moment of tenderness came to light by chance while William was petting another dog named Jacks, and he was telling his owner Louise Harland about it. She recalled on Hits Radio Cornwall how he was “absolutely delighted with my little dog” because he had never seen a dog like that before, and mentioned that Orla also shares his bed at night. In previous encounters with other dog owners, he had already hinted that they intended to breed Orla and thus expand the royal canine family.
It is the joy of the British royal family
Orla joined the family in 2020 as a gift from James Middleton, Kate’s brother, following the birth of six puppies. Shortly after, the royal family lost their beloved Lupo, another cocker spaniel who had been with them for nine years. In this way, the little dog, whose name means “golden princess” in Celtic, came to fill that void.
In fact, the dog hasn’t been seen much, except for appearances at special events, such as the official portrait for Princess Charlotte’s birthday in 2022 or the Royal Charity Polo Cup last summer. However, her presence is undeniably part of the most endearing private moments of the Wales family.
But Orla is not the only pet that brightens the princes’ lives. During a visit to Woodgate Valley Urban Farm, William shared that his children also have a guinea pig named Snowflake, although he confessed that sometimes they forget to clean its cage, so he has to roll up his sleeves to keep the animal in perfect condition.