Prince William and Kate Introduce New Cocker Spaniel Otto on His First Birthday

Key facts

• Prince William and Princess Kate announced the name of their new dog, Otto, on May 1 via Instagram.
• Otto is a one-year-old chocolate English cocker spaniel, one of four puppies born to the family's dog Orla.
• Orla joined the royal household in 2020 after the death of their first dog, Lupo.
• Otto first appeared in a family photo on April 29, celebrating William and Kate's 15th wedding anniversary.
• The photo included the couple, their three children, and both dogs.
• Kate revealed in February that they kept one male puppy from Orla's 2025 litter.
• Otto and his siblings were featured in Prince William's 43rd birthday photo last June.

Royal Family Welcomes Otto

The Prince and Princess of Wales have officially introduced their newest family member: a one-year-old chocolate English cocker spaniel named Otto. Kensington Palace shared a photograph on Instagram and X on May 1, captioned “Welcome to the family, Otto! 1 today.” The image shows the young dog standing in a grassy meadow, looking directly at the camera with the wind blowing through its fur.

Otto's Origins: Son of Orla

Otto is one of four puppies born to the couple's older black cocker spaniel, Orla, who joined the royal household in 2020 following the unexpected death of their first dog, Lupo. In February, the Princess of Wales confirmed that they had kept one male puppy from Orla's 2025 litter, noting that the puppy was then eight months old. Orla has made several public appearances, including in birthday portraits and at charity events.

Public Debut in Anniversary Portrait

Otto made his first public appearance in a family photograph shared on Instagram on April 29, marking the 15th anniversary of William and Kate's marriage. The portrait shows the couple lying on the grass alongside their three children—Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 8—as well as both dogs. The image offered a rare, candid glimpse of the royal family at leisure.

A History of Royal Dogs

The couple's first dog, a black cocker spaniel named Lupo, was a gift from Kate's brother, James Middleton, shortly after their 2011 wedding. Lupo died in 2020, prompting the family to welcome Orla later that year. Otto and his siblings were also featured in Prince William's 43rd birthday photograph last June, and Otto appeared with Orla in a recent family holiday snapshot for the anniversary.

Anniversary Celebrations and Recent Events

For their 14th wedding anniversary in 2025, William and Kate returned to Scotland, where they met at the University of St Andrews, for a two-day work trip to the Isles of Mull and Iona. Their latest anniversary follows King Charles III and Queen Camilla's historic four-day state visit to the United States—their first since ascending to the throne. The King and Queen returned to England on April 30, greeted by British Ambassador to the U.S. Christian Turner.

The bottom line

• Otto is the second dog for William and Kate, born to their older cocker spaniel Orla.
• The puppy was introduced on his first birthday via social media by Kensington Palace.
• Otto first appeared in a family photo celebrating the couple's 15th wedding anniversary.
• The royal family's dogs have been featured in multiple official portraits and holiday snapshots.
• The couple's first dog, Lupo, died in 2020, leading to the adoption of Orla.