Prince William And Kate Pay Tribute As 'Heart Of The Family' Dog Lupo Dies

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge announced the heartbreaking loss of their pet dog Lupo at the weekend.

Prince William and Kate Middleton shared a touching tribute on social media as they announced the Royal pooch had passed away, candidly telling followers: "nothing can ever prepare you for the loss of a dog".

The nine-year-old black cocker spaniel - which was bred from a dog owned by Kate's parents, Michael and Carole Middleton - was thought to have been given to Kate and William from her brother, James Middleton on their wedding day.

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In the Instagram post to their 12 million followers, the pair wrote: "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."

Kate's brother, James, added: "Nothing can ever prepare you for the loss of a dog.

"For those who have never had a dog, it might be hard to understand the loss.

"However for those who have loved a dog know the truth: a dog is not just a pet; it is a member of the family, a best friend, a loyal companion, a teacher and a therapist."

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James' Instagram tribute continued: "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. Tilly & Mini will be waiting for you. You will always be remembered and your legacy will live on forever. Good Boy."

Lupo - which means wolf in Italian - had proved an integral part of the family over the years.

The dog is said to have been responsible for picking out Prince George's name thanks to a game created by the Royals, in which they wrote down their favourite of names on scraps of paper and asked him to 'select' his favourite by tapping on it.

He's also posed for many portraits with the family, including the first snap of Prince George released to the public.

On the Prince's third birthday, in 2016, George could even be spotted feeding the pup some ice cream.

Aww. There's no doubt he was very loved.

RIP Lupo.

Topics: Dog, prince william, Kate Middleton, Royal Family, Royals

Joanna Freedman

Joanna is a journalist at Tyla with a particular interest in highlighting women's issues and telling inspiring first person stories. She's also their resident foodie, and loves covering exciting new beauty launches, too. Contact her at [email protected].

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