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Prince William and Kate Middleton are facing backlash after animal rights organization PETA slammed the royal couple for being “staggeringly out of touch” with their decision to welcome a new litter of puppies rather than adopt rescue dogs.
The criticism came after Kensington Palace shared a birthday photo of Prince William surrounded by his dog Orla and her newborn puppies. The post, captioned “Happy birthday! Love C, G, C, L, Orla and the puppies!”, sparked outrage from PETA, which accused the royals of ignoring the global crisis of animal homelessness.
“The Prince and Princess of Wales should know that shelters here and worldwide are overflowing with puppies desperate for a second chance at a loving home, and that churning out a litter in the midst of this animal homelessness crisis is staggeringly out of touch,” said PETA Vice President Elisa Allen in a statement to GB News.
The organization urged the couple to follow the example of King Charles and Queen Camilla, who adopted their dogs from shelters. “If William is going to lead, he might well take a lesson from King Charles and Queen Camilla, who have chosen to adopt from a shelter rather than contribute to the problem,” Allen added.
The controversy highlights growing public expectations for high-profile figures—especially the royal family—to promote responsible pet ownership. With millions of animals in shelters worldwide, PETA argues that breeding more dogs exacerbates the issue rather than helping solve it.
This isn’t the first time the Waleses have faced scrutiny over their pets. While they have previously owned rescue dogs, their latest move has drawn criticism for appearing tone-deaf amid rising awareness of animal welfare issues. As future monarchs, their choices are under intense public scrutiny, with many calling on them to set a better example—just as Charles and Camilla have done.
The palace has yet to respond to PETA’s remarks, but the debate continues to stir discussion about ethical pet ownership and the royal family’s influence on public behavior.
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