Princess Kate and Prince William Welcome a New Member to the Wales Family

Reported by Harper's Bazaar.

The Wales family just got a furry addition—and it's giving golden retriever energy even if Otto is technically a brown Cocker Spaniel. Prince William and Princess Catherine announced their new puppy's arrival via Instagram this week, revealing that the one-year-old pup just hit a major milestone. The candid shot shows Otto standing in a windswept field, ears flying, with that unmistakable "I have no idea what's happening" puppy expression that somehow makes every dog exponentially more likable.

Here's where it gets properly sweet: Otto is almost certainly one of the litter born to Orla, the family's existing Cocker Spaniel, last year. (Yes, the royals are clearly committed to the "O" naming convention.) Orla herself arrived at Kensington Palace in 2020 as a gift from Kate's brother James Middleton, after his dog Luna had puppies. The timing was significant—Orla became part of the household just before the family's beloved dog Lupo passed away that November, essentially filling a grief-shaped space.

The family portrait moment

Otto made his official family debut earlier this week in a portrait the couple released to mark their 15th wedding anniversary. In that image, William and Kate are sprawled on the grass with their three kids—Prince George (12), Princess Charlotte (10), and Prince Louis (8)—plus both Orla and Otto lounging nearby. It's the kind of deliberate-but-casual aesthetic that royal communications have perfected: formal occasion, completely unfussy execution. The dogs, naturally, steal the scene.

The timing of the puppy reveal also makes practical sense. The family recently moved to a larger residence, which presumably means more room for a growing pack of spaniels. It's one of those small details that bridges the gap between "royalty living in a castle" and "normal people with too many pets"—and honestly, Otto's existence is proof that even the ultra-famous can't resist an adorable pup with fluffy ears and zero awareness of his own cuteness.

Read the original at Harper's Bazaar.