Prince William and Kate Middleton got their dog Lupo in 2012 when he was in the RAF and would be gone for weeks at a time.
The royal family has been great lovers of pooches through the centuries. Queen Elizabeth II has always had her faithful royal corgis beside her and her grandsons are just as dedicated dog lovers. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took their dogs, a Beagle named Guy and a labrador named Oz, to Los Angeles with themselves and are often seen walking them around their neighborhood, as per Daily Mail.
Prince William too has grown up with dogs around just as his wife Kate Middleton has. When William and Harry were young, they had a black labrador named Widgeon and the princes also spent time with their father’s dog, Tigga, and Tigga’s daughter, Pooh, as per CheatSheet. Middleton had a dog named Tilly. She reportedly also had guinea pigs growing up.
It was only normal for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to get a dog together when they got married. There was a special reason why they got their cocker spaniel, Lupo. "When Prince William was away in the Falkland Islands he went for dinner with some good friends of ours in the Air Force and he was saying how difficult it was for Kate because he was leaving for six weeks," a source told Hello!. "It was when they’d just got the spaniel to help her with the time apart. She appreciates what wives and families go through," they added.
Lupo was a beloved pet born to a litter from Ella, who is owned by Middleton's parents Michael and Carole Middleton. Lupo was seen with his owners many times including at a polo match in 2013 and the dog also featured in the palace's first official pictures of William and Middleton with baby Prince George.
Unfortunately, the couple had to bid farewell to their beloved friend of almost a decade. "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," they wrote on social media, along with a photo of Lupo. Kate's brother James Middleton also shared a tribute to the dog, who is related to his canine friends.
"For most, the loss of a dog is, in almost every way comparable to the loss of a Human loved one," he said, noting that Lupo's death "brought a wave of emotions flooding back" from when his first dog passed away in 2017. "There isn’t much of a rule book on how to grieve for a dog, but I’ve said a prayer, lit a candle, and taken Ella (Mum) for a long walk to spend time remembering Lupo. Rest in peace Lupo," the 33-year-old brother of the Duchess added. Like many others, he considers dogs to be a member of the family, a friend, and even a therapist and mentor.
William and Middleton's children, George, Charlotte, and Louis would also have been affected by the loss of the trusted companion. They too were often seen with the beloved family dog.
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