Prince William and Kate Middleton to welcome 'new addition' after family's 'tough time'

Royal expert Rebecca English has claimed that Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, are preparing for an endearing new family member, following Kate's mysterious absence from Royal Ascot last week.

She noted that only last year, Kate was undergoing chemotherapy treatment following the discovery of cancer, after undergoing major abdominal surgery in January.

Kate shared with the public this January that she's now in remission, expressing her "relief" on social media and her intention to focus on recovery while anticipating a "fulfilling year."

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Rebecca also highlighted the effect of Kate's health struggles on her and William's children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. But it appears there's cause for joy in the household as the possibility of welcoming a new furry friend emerges.

In her piece for the Mail, Rebecca wrote: "We should not forget, of course, that Catherine's young brood – Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, ten, and seven-year-old Prince Louis – have also endured a tough time."

"As parents, there is always only so much we can keep from our children, particularly when it comes to physical illness. It's one of the reasons, I am told, that she and Prince William have decided to breed from their adored spaniel, Orla."

"Not only has it been something fun for the children to look forward to, but I am told they are planning to keep one of the pups."

Over the weekend, William rang in his 43rd year, and the official Kensington Royal account captured the celebratory mood with a delightful snap of the Prince relaxing with Orlaand her litter of adorable new pups.

Orla, the black cocker spaniel who was gifted to the Wales family by Kate's brother, James Middleton, recently became the proud mum of four puppies. The birthday post was lovingly captioned: "Happy birthday! Love C, G, C, L, Orla and the puppies!"

Back in April, for National Pet Day, the Wales household showed off Orla in a snapshot where the spaniel appeared soaking wet, with the day commemorated as: “Celebrating the animals who bring so much joy, companionship and love to our lives this #NationalPetDay.”

In another Orla-themed snap, she appeared in a photo alongside Princess Charlotte on her seventh birthday. The young princess was hugging the family dog in the picture, taken in Norfolk during the bank holiday weekend.

William's late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, was notably an animal lover herself, with a keen fondness for horses and, famously, for her corgis. In a display for her Platinum Jubilee in 2022, London saw a charming parade of more than 100 corgis.

During her record-breaking seven-decade reign, the late Queen owned dozens of corgis, with Princess Diana reportedly joking that she walked with a "moving carpet" of them.