Long before the royal wedding bells rang, Prince William had already won over one very important part of Kate Middleton’s life: her family—and more specifically, her family’s deep affection for dogs.
In a recent interview, Kate’s younger brother James Middleton revealed that being an animal lover wasn’t just a charming trait—it was practically a rite of passage for anyone entering the Middleton circle. Known for his passion for dogs, James humorously confirmed that having a bond with animals was a kind of “unofficial prerequisite” for joining the family.
William, it turns out, passed with flying colors.
“He had a long love of dogs,” James said. “He had a very strong relationship with a black lab named Wigeon growing up, so he already knew just how powerful that bond can be.”
James—founder of a dog food company and author of a memoir about how his late dog Ella helped him cope with depression—explained that dogs aren’t just pets in the Middleton household. They’re family. Kate and Pippa both own cocker spaniels, just like James’s beloved Ella. William and Kate even welcomed their own spaniel, Orla, shortly before their previous dog, Lupo, passed away.
The love for dogs is something that unites the entire family. “Wherever they go, they bring the dogs with them,” James added. “So I see a lot of them—which is lovely.”
James also emphasized the strength of their family ties, saying, “You don’t get to choose your family like you do your friends—but we’ve always been taught that you don’t give up on family either.”
In William’s case, it seems all it took to be embraced by the Middletons—aside from royal charm—was a genuine love for four-legged friends.
