The Princess of Wales got candid about life at home with Prince William and their three children

Kate Middleton in Wales on Feb. 3, 2026.Credit : Maxine Howells/Getty

Kate Middleton is confirming that four more paws are running around Forest Lodge.

The Princess of Wales, 44, visited a pair of Welsh businesses on Tuesday, Feb. 3, meeting with the employees and learning about their handcrafted products. At the Hiut Denim factory in Cardigan, Princess Kate was especially charmed by a cocker spaniel named Barney, sparking a revelation about her own pets.

“She had a rather long chat with my fiancée about our dog, about how she also has cocker spaniels and that hers is the same age as ours,” Hiut CEO Johann Von Loeper shared with PEOPLE. “It was a nice moment that broke the ice.”

Hello! reported that Kate also confirmed rumors that she and Prince William have welcomed a new dog into their family.

While marveling over Barney, the princess was asked how old her family’s dogs are. She answered, “So we’ve got a little puppy, he’s only 8 months, and Orla’s 5.”

Kate Middleton meets Barney the cocker spaniel at Hiut Denim on Feb. 3, 2026.Ryan Jenkinson / Kensington Palace

Speculation about the new family pet began last year after Orla — whom they got as a gift from Kate’s brother, James Middleton, in 2020 — welcomed a litter of puppies. William and Kate officially confirmed the arrival of Orla’s litter with a photo released in June 2025 to celebrate the Prince of Wales’ birthday. The candid image, which showed William sitting on the grass with three puppies around his lap, was signed: “Love C, G, C, L, Orla and the puppies!”

Rebecca English of The Daily Mail reported at the time that caring for the puppies was “something fun” for the Prince and Princess of Wales’ three children — Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7 — and that they were planning to keep one of the dogs.

Last month, the family fueled further speculation when they were spotted with two dogs in tow.

While the new puppy’s name remains a mystery, it’s possible that he will pop up in a future social media post or royal outing. Orla has occasionally joined the royals for outdoor events like charity polo matches, and she has also twice appeared in Princess Charlotte’s birthday portraits.

Kate Middleton and Orla watch Prince William play in a charity polo match on July 6, 2022.Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

The new addition comes after the family lost their first dog, Lupo, also a black cocker spaniel, that William and Kate received from James in December 2011 as a “belated wedding present.”

Lupo died in November 2020, and the royal couple mourned their furry friend with a heartfelt Instagram post.

“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, alongside a photo of the adorable black cocker spaniel.

Prince William with Lupo in June 2012.Indigo/Getty

Prince William opened up about losing Lupo in his episode of The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy, which premiered in October 2025.

During part of their candid, personal conversation, William and Levy went for a walk around Windsor, where the prince introduced the Schitt’s Creek star to Orla.

“She’s actually the niece of our other dog, Lupo, who sadly we lost during [COVID] lockdown,” William shared.

Levy shared his condolences and asked if the family was there when it happened. William replied, “Yes, we were all there, sadly. It was very sad.”