It starts with a pawprint—and a legacy. Queen Elizabeth II, with her ever-loyal corgis padding behind her in nearly every photograph, didn’t just love dogs. She turned them into symbols of the British monarchy. Regal, loyal, instantly recognizable: the Queen’s corgis were more than companions. They were part of her personal brand, a soft counterbalance to the weight of the crown.
Now, decades later, another member of the royal family is shaping a new image for the monarchy—one soft ear at a time.
Prince William, the future King, has ushered in a new era not just in leadership style, but in canine royalty. Gone are the famously short legs and perky ears of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. In their place? The soulful eyes and silky coats of the English Cocker Spaniel. And just like that, a new royal breed is rising.
A Tail of Two Monarchs
To understand the significance of this shift, one must look to history. When Queen Elizabeth took the throne, she sought to balance modernity with tradition. Her choice to keep corgis wasn’t just personal—it was emblematic. These dogs, small and sprightly, matched her petite frame and gentle demeanor but also served as a symbol of continuity. The Queen’s father, King George VI, also loved corgis. Her dog Susan accompanied her on her honeymoon. From that point onward, the breed became inseparable from her image.
Prince William, while equally grounded in tradition, is navigating a different world. As the monarchy faces modern challenges—global media scrutiny, calls for relevance, and evolving public expectations—William is quietly building a monarchy for the next generation. And like his grandmother, he’s using a dog to help tell that story.
The Rise of the Spaniel
In 2020, news quietly broke that the Cambridges—William and Catherine—had welcomed a new puppy into their home. A black Cocker Spaniel named Orla became part of the family, soon spotted in royal family portraits and official events. And just like that, the narrative began to shift.
Cocker Spaniels are known for being intelligent, affectionate, and active—attributes that mirror the Cambridges’ own approach to royal duty. While corgis evoke an old-world charm, Cocker Spaniels carry an everyman’s elegance. They are the family dog of the English countryside, just as comfortable in a palace garden as they are in a muddy field.
They are, in a word, relatable.
That relatability is something Prince William has prioritized in recent years. From candid moments with his children to open conversations about mental health, he has sought to modernize what it means to be royal—without abandoning the dignity that defines the institution.
A New Generation, A New Breed
But the story doesn’t end with Prince William.
Enter Princess Charlotte.
At just 9 years old, Charlotte has already shown signs of inheriting not only the royal poise of her grandmother and great-grandmother, but also their shared love of animals. Family sources say she’s particularly close to Orla and is often the one most involved in walks and feeding. Observers have even noticed how naturally she interacts with animals in public—often kneeling to their level, speaking softly, extending a gentle hand.
Could Charlotte be the one to cement the Spaniel as the royal breed for the next era?
Just as Queen Elizabeth passed on her love of corgis to her children and grandchildren, it seems Prince William is doing the same—with a distinctly modern twist. It’s not hard to imagine a future queen, Charlotte at her coronation, with a noble Spaniel at her feet, representing a quiet, enduring thread of family tradition.
The Bigger Picture Behind the Pawprints
So why does this matter?
Because in the royal family, symbolism speaks volumes.
A corgi wasn’t just a dog. It was a reflection of Queen Elizabeth’s steadiness, her rootedness in tradition. A Spaniel is something else: a symbol of warmth, adaptability, and an embrace of the times. In many ways, the Spaniel represents the monarchy Prince William is shaping—a balance between heritage and heart, crown and compassion.
By choosing this breed, William is sending a subtle message: the monarchy is still here, but it’s evolving. It’s more open, more modern, more connected to everyday people—starting with the kind of dog that curls up at the foot of the royal sofa.
And like his grandmother, who made a short-legged dog into a national icon, William is redefining royal identity through the smallest of choices—with the greatest of impacts.
