Prince and Princess of Wales Introduce Puppy Otto on Instagram

Key facts

• Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, introduced their puppy Otto on Instagram on May 1.
• Otto turned one year old on the day of the announcement.
• The couple's caption read: 'Welcome to the family, Otto! 1 today 🥳 🎂'.
• Otto is believed to be one of the puppies of the family's dog, Orla.
• In June 2025, William was photographed with puppies reportedly born to Orla for his birthday.
• The couple previously owned a dog named Lupo, who died in 2020.
• On April 29, the couple released a family photo for their 15th wedding anniversary, featuring their three children and Orla.

A New Royal Addition

The Prince and Princess of Wales have introduced their puppy Otto to the world, sharing a photograph on Instagram to mark his first birthday. The image shows the dog looking directly at the camera, his fur and ears blown sideways by the wind. The couple captioned the post, 'Welcome to the family, Otto! 1 today 🥳 🎂'.

Social Media Delight

Social media users quickly responded with enthusiasm, flooding the comments section with well-wishes. One user wrote, 'Oh, my heart is melting, what a beautiful sweetie!' Another commented, 'Hello Otto, you lucky dog, you are royalty now, and you get to live with an amazing family!' A third user added, 'Well Otto certainly won the furmily lotto.'

Otto's Lineage and Orla's Litter

Otto appears to be one of the puppies of the royal couple's family dog, Orla. In June 2025, the couple shared a birthday photo of William in which he was surrounded by puppies reportedly born to Orla. The caption of that post was signed off by 'C, G, C, L, Orla and the puppies,' referencing Catherine, George, Charlotte, Louis, and Orla.

A Week of Royal Milestones

The introduction of Otto comes during an eventful week for royal watchers. On April 29, the prince and princess released a never-before-seen family photo to celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary. The picture shows the couple lying in the grass with their three children—George, 12, Charlotte, 10, and Louis, 8—and Orla, who appears next to William as he scratches her neck.

A History of Canine Companions

William and Catherine have long been dog enthusiasts. In 2020, they announced the death of their 'dear dog' Lupo, who had been with the family for nine years. '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. Otto now joins the family as a new companion.

The bottom line

• Prince William and Catherine introduced their puppy Otto on Instagram, marking his first birthday.
• Otto is believed to be from a litter of their dog Orla, who was featured in a June 2025 birthday photo of William.
• The couple previously owned a dog named Lupo, who died in 2020.
• The announcement followed a week that included a new family photo for the couple's 15th wedding anniversary.
• Social media reactions were overwhelmingly positive, with users celebrating the new royal pet.