Kate Middleton and Prince William Interrupt Time Off to Honor a Beloved Family Member: Their Dog, Orla!

• Kate Middleton and Prince William are celebrating National Pet Day with a new photo of their dog, Orla

• PEOPLE confirmed in January 2021 that the couple got the dog from Princess Kate's brother, James

• Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, also marked National Pet Day with a tribute including the corgis she inherited from the late Queen Elizabeth

Kate Middleton and Prince William may be spending time with their family largely out of the public eye during their children's school break this week, but they made sure to mark National Pet Day by sharing a surprise photo of their family dog.

National Pet Day is observed around the world on April 11, and the Prince and Princess of Wales posted a never-before-seen picture of their black cocker spaniel, Orla, to celebrate the occasion. The snap showed Orla staring into the distance in a grassy area with trees, her shiny coat seemingly wet from an adventure.

"Celebrating the animals who bring so much joy, companionship and love to our lives this #NationalPetDay," the Prince and Princess of Wales' team wrote on their official social media accounts on April 11, adding a paw print emoji.

"Beautiful in every way," commented Princess Kate's younger brother, James Middleton, who is a proud dog lover. In fact, he's also a natural pet food company founder and the breeder who they received Orla from.

Related: Prince William Reveals His Chore for Family's Little-Known Pet Because George, Charlotte and Louis 'Forget'

Orla is the second dog that Prince William, 42, and Princess Kate, 43, have called their family pet. In January 2021, PEOPLE confirmed that the couple got the pup following the death of their first dog, Lupo, in November 2020. Lupo was also a black cocker spaniel they received from James as a "belated wedding present" in 2011, he wrote in his memoir Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life.

Years later, it was revealed that the royal couple received Lupo at a difficult time when William was about to head to the Falkland Islands for a six-week-long deployment.

Orla, whose name means "golden princess" in Celtic, has previously joined the royals for some sweet moments. The pup appeared beside Princess Charlotte for her birthday portraits two years in a row when the young royal turned 7 and 8.

Related: Kate Middleton's Mother's Day Video Has People Wondering If They Got a New Dog

Orla also tagged along with Princess Kate to watch Prince William play in the Royal Charity Polo Cup in July 2022. Kate gave her dog pets on the sidelines, and the cocker spaniel trotted along at the couple's heels when they walked off the pitch arm-in-arm later that day.

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The Prince and Princess of Wales were not the only royal family members celebrating National Pet Day. On April 11, Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, honored her dogs with a tribute on social media.

"Happy International Pet Day to my seven sweet doggies! From their wagging tails and comforting cuddles, to the calming presence and loyal companionship they give every single day, life is simply brighter with these amazing furry friends by my side," she wrote on Instagram.

The Duchess of York, popularly known as Fergie, posted a series of snaps of her with her dogs and some solo shots of the pups. The montage opened with a snap of the Duchess lying in the grass with Muick and Sandy, corgis she inherited after ​​Queen Elizabeth's death.

It rolled to show other photos of her Yorkies (a fitting breed for her York title!) with personalized bowls for Roary, Ginger and Poppy.

PEOPLE confirmed in September 2022 that the Duchess of York and her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, inherited the Queen's two surviving corgis upon her death at age 96. Fergie, Andrew and their daughters — Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie — gave the corgis to the dog-loving monarch in 2021.

Entrusted with their care after the Queen died, the Duchess of York later told PEOPLE that looking after the U.K.'s most famous pets came with some stress.

"They are national icons, so every time they run chasing a squirrel, I panic," Fergie told PEOPLE about the corgis in 2023. "But they're total joys, and I always think that when they bark at nothing, and there's no squirrels in sight, I believe it's because the Queen is passing by."

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