Prince William and Kate Middleton are known as ‘staggeringly out of touch’ by animal rights organisation PETA following a recent picture with their dog’s puppies.
Last week, the Princess of Wales posted a sweet snap of her husband sitting on a field with their English Cocker Spaniel, Orla, and three of the dog’s puppies.
The little pups were seemingly born in May, and William’s birthday portrait is the first look royal fans have at the sweet animals.
Alongside the Instagram photo, Kate wrote in the caption: “Happy birthday! Love C, G, C, L, Orla and the puppies!”
Other users commented: “My heart just exploded. Happy Birthday!” and: “What a joyful photo. Happy birthday to HRH Prince William.”
However, not everyone was as infatuated with the photo, as PETA has declared a cruel statement criticising the couple.
The organisation announced a statement charging them of ‘churning out a litter’ instead of adopting.
PETA’s Vice President of Programmes Elisa Allen said: “The Prince and Princess of Wales should know that shelters here and worldwide are overflowing with puppies desperate for a second chance at a loving home and that churning out a litter in the midst of this animal homelessness crisis is staggeringly out of touch.
“If William is going to lead, he might well take a lesson from King Charles III and Queen Camilla, who have chosen to adopt from a shelter rather than contribute to the problem.”
The couple, who are yet to openly answer to the comments, welcomed Orla into their family back in 2020 after their first dog Lupo unpredictely passed away.
Lupo had been given as a wedding gift to the couple from The Princess of Wales’ brother, James Middleton.
It’s unknown how many of Orla’s pups the Prince and Princess of Wales plan to keep, although some reports recommend it could be just one.
Elsewhere, The King and Camilla chose to adopt back in February, which was referred to PETA in their statement.
They approved a Jack Russell terrier called Moley, four months after losing their last beloved rescue pup, Beth, who was adopted in 2011.
They shared: “We’re pleased to confirm that Battersea has recently rehomed an 8-week-old Jack Russell terrier cross female puppy, called Moley, to our Patron, Her Majesty The Queen.
“The Queen has long been a supporter of Battersea’s work and has previously rehomed two rescue dogs from our charity.”
The controversy surrounding Prince William and Kate Middleton’s family dog has continued to attract attention after PETA publicly criticised the couple for welcoming a litter of puppies.
What began as a warm birthday photograph quickly became the subject of an unexpected debate about animal welfare, adoption and responsible pet ownership. For many royal supporters, the image was simply a touching glimpse into William’s private life. The photograph showed the future King relaxing outdoors alongside Orla and three of her young puppies, offering royal fans a rare look at the family away from official engagements.
For others, however, the arrival of the puppies raised a broader question: whether public figures should encourage breeding when animal shelters around the world continue to face overcrowding.
PETA’s criticism was particularly direct. The organisation argued that the couple could have chosen to adopt rather than allow Orla to have a litter, pointing to the large number of animals already waiting for permanent homes.
The comments immediately created a contrast between the Prince and Princess of Wales and William’s father, King Charles III, and Queen Camilla, who recently welcomed a rescue dog through Battersea.
That comparison has added another layer to the story because the royal family has often been associated with a deep affection for animals. Dogs, in particular, have played an important role in the private lives of several members of the family.
Orla first became part of William and Kate’s household in 2020. She came into their lives following the death of Lupo, the English Cocker Spaniel who had been a much-loved companion to the couple and their children.
Lupo had been a particularly special gift. He was given to William and Kate by Kate’s brother, James Middleton, as a wedding present. Over the years, photographs and appearances involving Lupo offered glimpses of the family’s life behind the palace walls.
His death was therefore an emotional loss for the family, and Orla subsequently became a new companion for the household.
The arrival of Orla’s puppies now appears to have created a very different kind of public conversation.
While some people have criticised the decision to breed Orla, others have defended the couple, arguing that responsible breeding and adoption are not necessarily mutually exclusive issues. Supporters have also pointed out that the public knows very little about the circumstances surrounding the litter or what arrangements have been made for the puppies.
The question of what will happen to the puppies remains another point of curiosity.
It has not been publicly confirmed exactly how many puppies William and Kate intend to keep. Reports have suggested that the couple may retain only one of Orla’s puppies, with the others potentially going to family members or trusted homes.
Until the family provides more information, much of the discussion remains speculation.
The situation involving King Charles and Queen Camilla, meanwhile, provides a notable alternative example of how members of the royal family have supported animal rescue.
In February, Queen Camilla welcomed Moley, an eight-week-old Jack Russell terrier cross, through Battersea. The move came several months after the death of Beth, another beloved rescue dog who had been adopted by the Queen in 2011.
Battersea confirmed Moley’s adoption and highlighted Camilla’s long-standing connection with the charity. The Queen has supported Battersea for years and previously rehomed two rescue dogs through the organisation.
That history explains why PETA chose to mention Charles and Camilla when criticising William and Kate. The organisation clearly sees the contrast as an opportunity to promote rescue adoption, particularly at a time when animal shelters are struggling to accommodate unwanted and abandoned pets.
Yet the disagreement also highlights how intensely every aspect of royal family life can be scrutinised.
A photograph intended to celebrate Prince William’s birthday became a discussion about breeding, adoption and animal welfare within hours. Something that would ordinarily be considered a private family moment was instead interpreted as a statement about the couple’s choices and responsibilities.
For William and Kate, the most immediate significance of the photograph was likely much simpler. It was a personal birthday message from Kate to her husband, signed affectionately by their children and their beloved pets.
The caption — ending with the names of the family’s dogs and the puppies — presented an unusually intimate picture of family life.
Whether the couple will respond directly to PETA’s criticism remains uncertain. Members of the royal family generally do not respond publicly to every criticism directed at them, particularly when the subject involves their private lives.
For now, the puppies remain at the centre of the conversation, with royal followers waiting to discover what their future will look like.
Whatever happens next, the episode demonstrates how even the smallest glimpses into the Wales family’s private life can generate enormous public interest. What appeared to be nothing more than a joyful birthday photograph has opened a much wider conversation about responsible pet ownership — and placed William and Kate unexpectedly on opposite sides of an animal welfare debate that continues to divide opinion.
