Prince William Opens Up About His Adventures With Dogs Orla and Otto: "Like Setting Off with Two Friends"
The Prince of Wales shared a few of his favorite things with 'Country Life,' including his two cocker spaniels.
In Prince William's guest-edited new issue of Country Life, he opens up about his work to make the British military safer for women, shares an impressive illustration by son Prince George and includes an interview with wife Princess Kate about the power of nature. The Prince of Wales also took the time to share some of his favorite things, ranging from Land Rover Defenders to his two best friends.
"Our dogs [Orla, a black cocker spaniel, and Otto, a liver cocker] make every walk better," William told the magazine. "Going out with them is like setting off with two friends who are so excited to be sharing the experience with you."
Princess Kate's brother, James Middleton, breeds cocker spaniels and gave Orla to the Wales family in 2020 ahead of their first dog Lupo's death. Orla gave birth to puppies last year, as featured in Prince William's sweet 43rd birthday photo, and the family kept Otto, who was part of the litter.
Prince William and Princess Kate revealed Orla to the world at a polo match in July 2022.
Orla played a starring role in William's episode of The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy.
However, the Wales family kept Otto a secret until the puppy was spotted with William and Kate in a video shared by a fan in January 2026. The following month, Princess Kate mentioned that they had indeed kept one of the puppies during a visit to Wales, but fans didn't get a glimpse of the dog until the couple shared a family photo for their 15th wedding anniversary in April.
They finally revealed his name on Otto's birthday, May 1, sharing a photo on Instagram captioned, "Welcome to the family, Otto! 1 today 🥳 🎂."
"They bring a sense of adventure and they make it more purposeful," Prince William said of country walks with his dogs. "Even on the most familiar route, they almost always discover something you didn't know was there."
Otto (top left, behind Prince William's head), made his first photographic appearance in William and Kate's 15th anniversary photo.
Along with dogs, the Prince of Wales listed the Merlin bird watching app, flatcaps and wild swimming as some of his favorite things, along with a longstanding royal favorite, the Land Rover Defender.
"A 2016 model, in British racing green, this is one of the last classic Defenders," the Prince of Wales shared. "It's one of those great British countryside icons. Like a Barbour jacket, it's at home in the landscape. British made, I can take it anywhere to do anything. It's sturdy, reliable and—above all—not flash."
