Prince William, Duchess Catherine and the children mourn their dog Lupo. Nine years after they accepted the black cocker spaniel into the royal family, he passed away over the weekend.
Prince William, 38, and Duchess Catherine, 38, shared the sad news of their dog's death on Instagram. "We are very sad that our dear dog Lupo passed away last weekend," the couple wrote about a photo of their deceased pet. "He has been the heart of our family for nine years and we will miss him so much." Even at the numerous polo tournaments in which Prince William participated, the four-legged friend was often spotted by photographers.
Prince William and Duchess Catherine mourn
The English Cocker Spaniel is out of a litter of the bitch Ella, owned by Kate's parents Michael Middleton, 71, and Carole Middleton, 65. Kate's brother James Middleton, 33, gave William and Kate Lupo as a wedding gift in 2011. "It was a pleasure giving them a puppy," Kate's brother told ABC News at the time. "And Lupo was their gift." The co-founder of the Boomf greeting cards also paid tribute to Lupo on Sunday on Instagram and published three photos of the black dog.
"Nothing can ever prepare you for losing a dog," wrote James. “For those who have never had a dog, the loss may be difficult to understand. Those who have loved a dog will understand: a dog is not just a pet; it is a family member, a best friend, a faithful companion, teacher and therapist. "James continued," There aren't many rules on how to mourn a dog, but I said a prayer, lit a candle and took Ella (Mum) for a long walk, to spend time remembering Lupo. "
Lupo was named after the great-grandmother
Lupo's name has a sweet connection to Kate's family and was reportedly chosen as a tribute to her great-grandmother's family name, whose maiden name was Lupton. Will and Kate originally decided to adopt Lupo to keep Kate company while William served in the Royal Air Force in the Falkland Islands.
Sources: US Weekly, Marie Claire
This article originally appeared on Gala.de.