Animal rights charity label royal couple ‘staggeringly out of touch’ for breeding cocker spaniel

Animal rights activists have criticised the Prince and Princess of Wales for breeding their cocker spaniel.

A photograph of Prince William surrounded by four new puppies bred from the family dog Orla was posted on social media to mark his 43rd birthday on Saturday.

The previously unseen picture, taken by the Princess in May, was accompanied by the caption: “Happy birthday! Love C, G, C, L, Orla and the puppies.” The initials referred to the Princess and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) have called the royal couple “staggeringly out of touch” for “churning out a litter” when animal shelters are so full of dogs needing new homes.

The charity suggested that the Prince and Princess follow the example set by the King and Queen, who recently adopted a puppy named Moley from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.

The new pet joined the family shortly after the death of Beth, the Queen’s Jack Russell terrier. She had adopted Beth in 2011 and a second terrier called Bluebell in 2012 from the Battersea shelter, of which she is patron.

In a statement, Elisa Allen, the vice-president of programmes at Peta, 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 and Queen Camilla, who have chosen to adopt from a shelter rather than contribute to the problem.”

The Prince and Princess were given a cocker spaniel called Lupo as a wedding present from James Middleton, the Princess’s brother. Lupo died unexpectedly in 2020 and they welcomed Orla several months later.

It is believed that the royal couple plan to keep one of the new puppies, which have brought great joy to their children.

Princess Charlotte pictured with family dog Orla on her eighth birthday Credit: Millie Pilkington

Campaigners including Tory MP Andrew Rosindell have written to the Charity Commission to call for Peta’s charity status to be revoked.

The letter, from Peta Watch, alleged that the charity operates as an “extremist political protest group”, which organises protests, demonstrations and stunts without providing any evidence of undertaking charitable activities.

Mr Rosindell, the former chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Zoos and Aquariums Group, said he had “major concerns” about the organisation’s charitable status.

“It is completely wrong that an extreme organisation like Peta, which is blatantly political in its activities, is given the tax advantages afforded to a charity while failing to use the donations it receives to help animals in need,” he said.

The campaigners have alleged that although Peta claims to produce educational materials for schools, it admitted in a response to a Peta Watch report “that the organisation does not monitor how many schools use its materials, nor does it track student responses”.

They said: “Worse still, Peta has gleefully attacked other genuine animal welfare charities such as the RSPCA. Only genuine charities should have charitable status.”

They have also accused Peta of “spreading baseless fake science” by linking dairy consumption with autism and equating zoos to the slave trade.

In response to the campaign, Ms Allen said: “Peta’s aim is, and always has been, to reduce animal suffering and people are glad to receive information from our investigations and other fact-checked resources that give them the ability to make compassionate decisions.”

She said Peta and its global entities were backed by more than 9 million members and supporters, and as a UK registered charity of almost 30 years had convinced hundreds of designers and retailers to “drop fur, angora, and wild-animal skins, helped stop experimentation on animals in Europe for cosmetics, seen wild-animal circus bans, and many other ground-breaking victories for animals.”

Kensington Palace and Peta declined to comment.