Prince William reveals unexpected family member he and Kate Middleton share bed with

When it comes to and private life, it’s clear to see that the couple put family first, with the dedicated royals enjoying a comfortable life with their three children ,and

Yet while the children certainly take up most of their time, they’re not the only family members that demand William and Kate’s attention - as one other key family member has also earned a firm place in their hearts - and their bed!

The surprising revelation first came to light on Thursday October 17, when Prince William was meeting a fan’s dog during his visit to Duchy College. During the course of the conversation, William revealed that the couple’s beloved fur-baby Orla, a cocker spaniel, often sleeps in bed with him and his wife - much to the surprise of fans in attendance.

According to , Louise Harland, who was there with her dog Jacks, told Hits Radio Cornwall: "[William] said that his little dog sleeps on the bed with them at night, with him and Kate."

READ MORE:

"[He was] absolutely in love with my little dog. 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," Louise added.

She also went on to reveal that William had commented on how "soft" her pet's ears are and "gave him lots of loving.”

Royal pooch Orla has been a member of the family since 2020, when James Middleton’s dog Luna gave birth to a litter of six healthy puppies, prompting William and Kate to re-home one of the pups. However, despite being adopted early on, it wasn’t until 2022 that the royal canine made her debut, when she appeared alongside Princess Charlotte in a portrait to mark her birthday.

Interestingly, Orla has a royal connection of her own too - as the word itself means “golden princess” in Celtic, meaning it has a regal connotation and nods towards the couple’s titles as the Prince and .

Prior to welcoming Orla into their home, the family had been the proud owners of another dog, Lupo, who was also a cocker spaniel, but sadly died in November 2020 leaving the royals heartbroken. The family announced his death with a special tribute on social media, writing at the time: "He has been at the heart of our family for the past nine years and we will miss him so much."

Despite being an integral part of the family, Orla has only been seen on a handful of occasions since being welcomed into the family home, however she did make a rare appearance last Summer, when William and Kate stepped out at the Royal Charity Polo Cup.

In addition to their canine companion, the royals are also the owners of a guinea pig, however as Prince William revealed earlier this year during an appearance at Woodgate Valley Urban Farm - his children weren’t always punctual when it came to cleaning up after it!

“Prince William said he was so happy stroking Snowflake the guinea pig at Woodgate Valley Urban Farm … that he didn’t want to leave,” explained Telegraph reporter Victoria Ward at the time. “He revealed that his kids always forget to clean out their own guinea pig, leaving him to do it.”