Prince William and Kate Middleton have welcomed several new additions to their family – and one royal expert has explained why they’ve been keen to expand their household

The Prince and Princess of Wales have welcomed some new family members – and the reason for their growing household has been revealed. Since the beginning of 2024, the Wales family have suffered from an incredibly tough time following Kate’s can.cer diagnosis following major abdominal surgery and her subsequent chemotherapy treatment.

Kate later shared with the public in January that she’s now in remission, expressing her “relief” on social media and her intention to focus on recovery while anticipating a “fulfilling year.” However, in spite of the uncertainty over the past year, it now appears there is cause for joy for the couple and their children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis – with the arrival of new puppies.

Writing in the Daily Mail, Rebecca English reveals The Prince and Princess of Wales’ decision to allow their pet dog Orla to have her own litter. She said: “We should not forget, of course, that Catherine’s young brood – Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, ten, and seven-year-old Prince Louis – have also endured a tough time.

“As parents, there is always only so much we can keep from our children, particularly when it comes to physical illness. It’s one of the reasons, I am told, that she and Prince William have decided to breed from their adored spaniel, Orla. Not only has it been something fun for the children to look forward to, but I am told they are planning to keep one of the pups.”

Over the weekend, William celebrated his 43rd birthday, and the official Kensington Royal account shared a heartwarming photo of the Prince unwinding with Orla and her adorable new puppies.

Orla, the black cocker spaniel given to the Wales family by Kate’s brother, James Middleton, recently became the proud mother of four pups. The birthday post was lovingly captioned: “Happy birthday! Love C, G, C, L, Orla and the puppies!”

Earlier in April, for National Pet Day, the Wales family shared a photo of Orla looking drenched, accompanied by a message that read: “Celebrating the animals who bring so much joy, companionship, and love to our lives this #NationalPetDay.”

In another photo featuring Orla, the spaniel was seen alongside Princess Charlotte on her seventh birthday. The young princess was hugging the family dog in a picture taken in Norfolk over the bank holiday weekend.

William’s late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, was also known for her love of animals, especially horses and, of course, her beloved corgis. In a charming tribute to her Platinum Jubilee in 2022, more than 100 corgis were featured in a special parade through London.

Throughout her historic seven-decade reign, the Queen owned numerous corgis, with Princess Diana famously joking that she often walked alongside a “moving carpet” of them.