Royal fans have speculated that Kate and William may have a new family pet, after spotting an adorable brown puppy in the Princess’ Mother’s Day video message on Sunday.

The Prince and Princess of Wales posted the clip alongside a heartfelt statement from Catherine celebrating Mother Nature and ‘our bond with the natural world’.  

Different natural environments from around the UK, including woodlands, beaches and the oceans, and fields, are also featured in the video, with Kate, 43, only appearing briefly to touch the bark of a tree, and her face was not shown.

She wrote: ‘Over the past year, nature has been our sanctuary. This Mother’s Day, let us celebrate Mother Nature and recognise how our bond with the natural world can help not only nurture our inner selves, but remind us too of the role we play within the rich tapestry of life. C.’

Prince William, 42, was also in the short film, but he was only seen by the backs of his legs, accompanied by the family dog, Orla, alongside a brown Cocker Spaniel. 

He traipsed through long grass barefoot with both pooches in tow, as they excitedly jumped up on his leg, whilst wagging their tails.

Eagle-eyed lovers of the Royal Family were quick to question whether the Waleses have a new dog, taking to X to express their thoughts. For instance, one wrote: ‘Princess Catherine has a new puppy’.

However, despite speculation, the pooch is one of James Middleton’s beloved pet dogs. 

Kate and William are pictured with their black Cocker Spaniel Orla in Windsor in 2022 

Prince William was in the short film, but he was only seen by the backs of his legs, accompanied by the family dog, Orla, alongside James Middleton’s brown Cocker Spaniel

William traipsed through long grass barefoot with both pooches in tow, as they excitedly jumped up on his leg, whilst wagging their tails

The couple welcomed their black Cocker Spaniel Orla into their family in 2020 when she was eight months old.

She was raised by Kate’s brother, James Middleton, a known dog lover and breeder of Cocker Spaniels. 

He wrote a book about his beloved pup Ella, who passed away in 2023, and recently released a book called Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life, which has been described as a ‘love letter to man’s best friend’.  

James revealed in his new book how he tried to get Ella to breed with another cocker spaniel named Spartan.

His attempt was successful and nine weeks later, she gave birth to five male pups, including Lupo.

He recalled how he asked William and Kate if they would like one, ‘as a belated wedding present’.

‘All you have to do is choose your favourite,’ he said to the couple.

Eagle-eyed lovers of the Royal Family were quick to question whether the Waleses have a new dog, taking to X to express their thoughts

‘There in the box nestled the glossy black pups. Catherine and William bent down to stroke their tiny muzzles,’ Mr Middleton wrote in his bestselling book.

Their joint statement at the time said: ‘Very sadly last weekend our dear dog, Lupo, passed away. He has been at the heart of our family for the past nine years and we will miss him so much. – W & C.’ 

Lupo featured in many pictures with the royals, including one of the first official photos of Prince George.

He was given to Will and Kate as a wedding present in 2011, and is believed to have helped them pick a name for Prince George.

The couple are said to have written names on various pieces of paper and scattered them on the floor.

Lupo wandered through them, but stopped when he reached the seven-year-old’s name.

Kate is thought to have named Lupo after her paternal great-grandmother, who was born Olive Christiana Lupton.

In the summer of 2020, before Lupo passed away, they got Orla, with William revealing to a wellwisher that she sleeps alongside the couple on their bed.

The Princess and Princess of Wales are snapped alongside newborn Prince George and dog Lupo in 2013 

Kate was seen walking Lupo alongside Autumn Phillips and her daughter Savannah in 2012

He spoke to Louise Harland during a visit to Duchy College Stoke Climsland in Callington, Cornwall last October.

‘[He was] absolutely in love with my little dog,’ she told Hits Radio Cornwall. ‘Jacks came and met him.

‘And he asked what breed he was and he’s never met one of those breeds – he’s a cockerjack – so he’s a little bit of a unique combination.’

She said William remarked on how ‘soft’ her pooch’s ears were, and ‘gave him lots of loving’.

‘[He] said that his little dog sleeps on the bed with them at night, with him and Kate,’ Louise also added.

Video shared by Greatest Hits Radio News showed a delighted William petting the sweet pup, and saying: ‘My dog is exactly like this… loves cuddles.’

As a puppy, Orla featured in Princess Charlotte’s photoshoot when she turned seven, with the young royal beaming amid the bluebells.

Orla’s name was initially kept as a secret for two years. The name is Celtic in origin and means ‘golden princess’.

She was also seen in the Princess of Wales’s affectionate video where she announced that she was recovering from cancer in September last year.

The unprecedented piece of deeply personal footage, showed an intimate portrait of the Wales family like never seen before, with William and Kate cuddling up on the beach while petting Orla.