The backlash came after Kensington Palace shared a birthday photo of Prince William, taken by Princess Kate, showing him with his Cocker Spaniel, Orla, and three of her four puppies.
The picture, taken in Windsor earlier this month, was posted to mark William’s 43rd birthday, with a caption signed off by “C, G, C, L, Orla and the puppies”.
Accused of being "out of touch"
PETA’s vice president, Elisa Allen, called the move “staggeringly out of touch”, citing the growing number of animals in shelters.
She said the royals should have followed King Charles and Queen Camilla’s example, having adopted rescue dogs from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.
Camilla, a long-time supporter of animal adoption, even had her rescue dogs embroidered on her coronation gown.
Sparked online debate
The royal couple’s decision to breed Orla, however, has sparked online debate.
Defenders of the Prince and Princess, including royal author Lady Colin Campbell, dismissed the criticism as “doctrinaire fanaticism” and defended the couple’s choice as both reasonable and personal.
