Lupo (dog) facts for kids
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| Species | Canis lupus familiaris |
|---|---|
| Breed | English Cocker Spaniel |
| Sex | Male |
| Born | December 2011 |
| Died | November 2020 (aged 8) |
| Owner | |
Lupo (born December 2011 – died November 2020) was a much-loved English Cocker Spaniel dog. He belonged to Prince William and Catherine, who were known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the time. Lupo became quite famous himself! He helped make his dog breed more popular in the United Kingdom, and he even appeared in official photos with their son, Prince George.
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Lupo's Life and Royal Family
Lupo was born from a dog named Ella, who belonged to Michael and Carole Middleton. They are the parents of Catherine, Princess of Wales. Lupo was a special kind of English Cocker Spaniel, known as a working-type dog. He was born just before Christmas in 2011. Soon after, he was given to Prince William and Catherine.
Lupo in Royal Photos
After Prince George of Wales was born, Lupo was included in one of the very first official photos of the new royal baby. He also appeared in a family picture with Prince William, Catherine, and Prince George in March 2014. Lupo did not travel with his owners when they visited Australia and New Zealand in 2014. Even after he passed away, Lupo briefly appeared in a video. This video was made in 2020 to celebrate William and Catherine's tenth wedding anniversary. It was filmed at Anmer Hall.
What Does "Lupo" Mean?
The name "Lupo" comes from the Italian word for wolf. This word itself comes from the Latin word "lupus." It is believed that Catherine named the dog after her paternal great-grandmother's family, the Luptons. The Lupton family's crest actually features wolves on it. Lupo even appeared on the front cover of Hello magazine!
Lupo's Passing
Lupo sadly passed away in November 2020. The cause of his death was not shared publicly. Prince William and Catherine shared a message on Instagram on November 22, 2020. They said: "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. – W & C".
Lupo's Impact on Dog Breeds
Lupo had a big impact on the popularity of English Cocker Spaniels. The Kennel Club, a group that promotes dog breeds, said that Lupo helped increase interest in his breed. After the royal couple announced they owned Lupo, searches for English Cocker Spaniels on their "Find A Puppy" website went up by 50%! However, this increased interest also led to more thefts of English Cocker Spaniels.
A writer named Aby King signed a deal to write four books about Lupo's made-up adventures for children. She got the idea while walking her own Cocker Spaniel in Kensington Palace Gardens. The first book, called The Adventures of Lupo the Royal Dog: The Secret of Windsor Castle, was released in September 2014.
