HUGS ALL ROUND

As stunning new portraits taken to mark her 60th birthday are unveiled, the Duchess of Edinburgh jumps at the chance to cuddle a puppy with a rather regal name...

- IONA MACROBERT

The Duchess of Edinburgh was all smiles last week as she jumped at the chance to cuddle a cavalier King Charles spaniel that affectionately nestled into her and playfully nibbled her earring.

The nine-week-old puppy, named Lord Louis of Spudringham, was among the pets Sophie met on a visit to Dogs for Autism in Alton, Hampshire.

Founded in 2016, the charity is the first organisation in the UK to exclusively provide assistance dogs for people with autism, of all ages, at no cost.

She and Lord Louis – who has an older sibling called Lexi, already part of the charity’s team – quickly became inseparable, as the puppy settled in her lap with a toy and she leant down to give him a kiss.