Prince William recently opened up about the loss of his beloved English Cocker Spaniel, Lupo, who passed away in November 2020. During a visit to the royal gardens at Windsor Castle with Hollywood star Eugene Levy, he admitted to feeling “the gaping hole” left by Lupo’s death. He talked about how important that dog was to his family.
Lupo became a member of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s family in 2011 as a wedding present from Kate Middleton’s younger brother, James Middleton. Over the next nine years, Lupo became a cherished member of the family, accompanying the couple through important moments, including the birth of their three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Very very sadly last weekend our sweety dog, Lupo, died. Prince William and Kate Middleton said they were “utterly heartbroken” in a joint statement. We are devastated to have lost Lupo, who has been the center of our family for the last nine years.
Beyond the hustle and bustle of royal events, Lupo was frequently spotted on family outings, attending polo matches and horse trials with Prince William and Kate Middleton. Most famously, he was featured in one of Prince George’s first official photographs, a reflection of his crucial role in the family unit.
In January 2021, less than a month after Lupo’s death and before any change in their public-facing policy, the Cambridges added another dog, Orla, to their household. Of course, Orla is Lupo’s biological niece, but this blood relation only deepens the psychological implications of her being in the home. The story of Orla’s name became public when she appeared at the center of Princess Charlotte’s seventh birthday portraits released in May 2022.
To mark Prince William’s 43rd birthday in June 2023, Kensington Palace shared a heartwarming photograph of him with three of Orla’s puppies. This was a true testament to the happiness of Orla’s impact on the family. Fresh as it was, it constantly reminded them of the indelible mark Lupo made on their lives.
During his recent talk with Eugene Levy, Prince William mentioned how sad he was to lose Lupo. He explained, “So [Orla’s] actually the niece of our other dog, Lupo, who unfortunately we lost in lockdown. He noted how his family’s grief was shared among them, saying, “Yeah we were all there sadly, it was very sad.”
Yet the emotional impact of all these losses has been deep for Prince William. True to his social media presence, Lil Boosie has opened up on how Lupo’s death has impacted him, comparing his grief process to when he lost his grandparents.
