Will and Kate mourn the loss of their dog Lupo

Before the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were mom and dad to Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, they were dog parents to Lupo. On November 22, Prince William and Kate Middleton revealed that their beloved dog had passed away after nine years with the family.The couple shared the difficult news on their official Instagram account. “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.” The caption was posted next to a beautiful shot of the English Cocker Spaniel.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@kensingtonroyal)

Lupo moved into Kate and William’s home in 2012 and according to Hello was already a member of the Middleton family. Lupo was born from a litter belonging to Ella, the dog owned by Kate’s parents, Michael and Carole Middleton. The Duchess reportedly brought the dog home shortly after she and William were married in 2011. At the time, William was serving in the Falkland Islands as part of the Air Force.Kate’s brother James Middleton also shared a touching tribute to Lupo on his Instagram account. “Nothing can ever prepare you for the loss of a dog. For those who have never had a dog, it might be hard to understand the loss. However for those who have loved a dog know the truth: a dog is not just a pet; it is a member of the family, a best friend, a loyal companion, a teacher and a therapist,” wrote James. “There isn’t much of a rule book on how to grieve for a dog, but I’ve said a prayer, lit a candle and taken Ella (Mum) for a long walk to spend time remembering Lupo.”Lupo has been a major part of the Duke and Duchess' family, even appearing in the first official family photos of the couple with Prince George. The pictures were taken by Kate’s father Michael and show the happy new parents posing with their two "sons."Lupo was often a fixture at Prince William’s polo matches, keeping the Duchess company while she watched her husband and brother-in-law, Prince Harry, on the pitch.[caption id="attachment_5067188" align="alignleft" width="714"] Getty Images[/caption][caption id="attachment_5067190" align="alignleft" width="714"] Getty Images[/caption][caption id="attachment_5067189" align="alignleft" width="714"] Getty Images[/caption]The Royal family have a long history as dog lovers. Williams grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, is famously known for her love of corgis, turning Buckingham palace into a home for several dogs throughout her reign. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are also parents to Pula and Guy, a Labrador Retriever and Beagle. The two dogs have recently made a handful of appearances while the couple work from home. Pula popped up during Markle’s conversation with Gloria Steinem in August, which took place in the Duke and Duchess’ backyard in California. In September, the couple appeared during the first-ever prime time TV special honouring Time Magazine’s annual picks for most influential people. The couple filmed their segment from their backyard and urged Americans to vote in the US Presidential election, with Pula once again making a quick cameo in the shot.William and Kate are often seen engaging with dogs on their various appearances on behalf of the palace.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@kensingtonroyal)