William and Kate grieve for 'heart of the family' dog Lupo

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are grieving for their beloved dog Lupo.

Lupo, a nine-year-old black cocker spaniel, was a wedding present from Kate's brother James Middleton.

But on Sunday, the couple said on Instagram: "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."

Mr Middleton said on Instagram: "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."

Following the birth of Prince George in July 2013, William said Lupo had coped very well with the upheaval in the house.

"As a lot of people know who have got dogs and bring a newborn back, they take a little bit of time to adapt, but, no he's been all right so far," he had said.

"He's been slobbering sort of around the house a bit, so he's perfectly happy."

In pictures taken to mark Prince George's third birthday, the little royal caused controversy by offering Lupo a lick of his ice cream, prompting the RSPCA to warn people not to give dairy products to their dogs, as they can be toxic.

The animal welfare charity did however praise the young prince for trying to help Lupo keep cool in the summer heat.

Spaniels are known for being energetic and in March, Kate revealed table tennis was a difficult activity in their household because of Lupo's determination to get involved.

During the couple's visit to the Republic of Ireland, she told young people at a respite centre in County Kildare: "We try to do this at home but our dog keeps catching the ping pong balls."