Outspoken animal rights activists who targeted Prince William and Kate for breeding their cocker spaniels were today condemned as ‘doctrinaire fanatics’.

The Prince and Princess of Wales were branded ‘staggeringly out of touch’ in a provocative statement from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta).

The firebrand US group said nobody should be ‘churning out a litter’ when shelters were full of dogs needing homes in a so-called ‘animal homelessness crisis’.

But critics of Peta hit back today, describing the organisation as an ‘extremist group’ and ‘animal rights terrorists’ who are ‘themselves staggeringly out of touch’.

Peta is known for being outspoken and has attracted criticism from those who claim it operates as a ‘political protest group’ despite having charitable status – but the organisation insists its aim ‘is, and always has been, to reduce animal suffering’.

Elisa Allen, vice president of programmes for Peta, had said of the royal couple: ‘The Prince and Princess of Wales should know that shelters here and worldwide are overflowing with puppies desperate for a second chance at a loving home.’

She told MailOnline that ‘churning out a litter in the midst of this animal homelessness crisis is staggeringly out of touch’.

Ms Allen – who once sent Meghan Markle a vegan leather handbag as a birthday gift in 2018 – added: ‘If William is going to lead, he might well take a lesson from King Charles and Queen Camilla, who have chosen to adopt from a shelter rather than contribute to the problem.’

But royal author Lady Colin Campbell responded, saying: ‘I see the animal rights terrorists are at it again. Peta has attacked the Prince and Princess of Wales for daring to breed from their dog.

‘They commend – rightly – the King and Queen for rescuing dogs from Battersea Dogs Home, while condemning Wiliam and Catherine for allowing their family dog, which is a descendant of her brother’s beloved dog, to have puppies.’

Writing on X, she added: ‘Doctrinaire fanatics refuse to acknowledge that they do their cause more harm than good by trying to bully people for making perfectly reasonable and acceptable choices. There is nothing wrong with perpetuating the line of a beloved pet.’

The British-Jamaican socialite added that she had ‘whelped several generations of beloved dogs, while also taking in generation after generation of rescue cats’.

Former Conservative MSP Brian Monteith, who is now a communications adviser to the anti-Peta campaign group Peta Watch, told MailOnline: ‘For Peta to attack the Princess of Wales during her battle with cancer over her decision to raise a puppy with her children is disgusting. 

‘Peta should apologise and withdraw its comments. But this animal rights group has form for outlandish attacks – it’s done to attract publicity and donations when it provides no support to animal sanctuaries or rescue centres.’

Mr Monteith, who was also a Brexit Party MEP, also described Peta as an ‘extremist group’, writing in the Telegraph today: ‘It is the Waleses who are supremely in-touch with their role as parents building a caring family, while the virtue-signalling headline grabbers are themselves staggeringly out of touch.’

In response to Peta Watch’s claims, Ms Allen said Peta’s aim ‘is, and always has been, to reduce animal suffering and people are glad to receive information from our investigations and fact checking that give them the ability to make compassionate decisions’.

She added that Peta and its global entities were backed by more than nine million members and supporters, and it had been a UK registered charity for nearly 30 years during which it had convinced hundreds of designers and retailers to drop fur, angora and wild-animal skins.

Just last December, Peta honoured William in its 2024 Fashion Awards – giving him the ‘Red Carpet Award’ for wearing eco-friendly trainers to the Earthshot Prize.

Kensington Palace has refused to get involved in the row, declining to comment when approached by MailOnline today.

Asked to comment on Peta’s statement, PDSA vet nurse Nina Downing told MailOnline: ‘Rescue centres are full of pets that are in search of new, kind and loving homes, and we’d always recommend anyone wanting to bring a pet into their lives, to first explore adopting a pet. Rescues have a range of breeds, and dogs of all ages looking for homes.

‘Responsible rescue centres support adopters throughout their pet search journey and beyond, providing important help and support as their new pet settles into their new home. Which is hugely beneficial to anyone considering this new responsibility.

‘We do know that sometimes a rescued pet isn’t always the best option for each family. When it comes to breeding, where a puppy is born and raised has a huge impact on their future health and happiness. When puppies are bred responsibly, from healthy parents, are well socialised and educated through reward-based training, they can make wonderful family pets.

‘A good breeder will provide help and support to owners. They will want to make sure that the new owners will be suitable for their puppy and that they’re well prepared to take on the responsibility of pet care, ensuring their health and welfare needs are met. Responsible breeders will be on hand to provide aftercare advice, long after the puppy has settled in with their new family.

‘It’s lovely to see the warm and affectionate interaction between Prince William and their family dog Orla’s puppies in the photos shared. With elements of their lives shared to the public, it’s clear that Orla and her puppies are much-loved.’

And a Dogs Trust spokesman told MailOnline: ‘Whilst we’d always encourage people to consider adopting a dog, we know that some people will choose to buy a puppy.

‘The first time you meet your potential new puppy is such an exciting moment. They bring energy, love, endless tail wags and are bound to put a smile on your face.

‘But it is so important to make sure you know where your puppy has come from, as sadly, many are still bred and sold in poor conditions.

‘Choosing the right breeder and puppy can feel overwhelming, but by doing some simple research and learning what to look out for, you can ensure that the new addition to your family is happy and in good health.’

The row erupted after William was pictured with his dog Orla and three of her puppies in a photo taken by Kate and released by Kensington Palace on Saturday for his 43rd birthday.

The picture was accompanied by the caption: ‘Happy birthday! Love C, G, C, L, Orla and the puppies!’. The initials referred to Kate, who is more formally known as Catherine, and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis .

In the photo, one of the chocolate cocker spaniel puppies is being stroked by William while their mother Orla is behind him.

The Prince and Princess have had Orla since 2020, after their first dog together Lupo, also a cocker spaniel – which they were given as a wedding present from Kate’s brother James Middleton – died unexpectedly.

James is an experience breeder and has owned three generations of cocker spaniels.

Orla gave birth to four puppies last month and the photograph was taken in Windsor on a sunny day earlier in June.

The royal couple are understood to be planning to keep one of the new puppies.

In February, Camilla told how she had adopted a rescue puppy after she was left heartbroken by the death of her beloved dog Beth.

The Queen revealed the addition to her canine family called Moley – because, in her words, the dog ‘looks just like a mole’ – when she met a fellow dog lover at an event in Canterbury, Kent.

Buckingham Palace posted the news of the death of Beth on social media last November alongside a montage of images of the royal pet, with the message describing the joy the animal brought to Camilla.

Beth, a Jack Russell terrier, was adopted by Camilla from the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in 2011, just like her other rescue dog Bluebell, the following year.

Moley is a girl born on Boxing Day and is also from Battersea, the animal rescue centre in South London which Camilla supports as patron. 

The late Queen Elizabeth II owned more than 30 corgis, many of them direct descendants of her first one Susan, who was so loved she accompanied the then Princess Elizabeth on her honeymoon.

She was also kept dorgis – a cross between a corgi and a dachshund.

Charles also owned Jack Russells, including his beloved Tigga, who lived until the age of 18 and grew up with princes William and Harry.

A willow and bronze wire sculpture of Tigga stands in tribute to the cherished pet in the gardens of Charles’s Gloucestershire home Highgrove.

Tigga’s daughter Pooh went missing on the Balmoral estate in 1994 after running off into the trees, but was never found again.

Back in January, the Duchess of Sussex said she was ‘devastated’ after the death of her rescue beagle Guy, who she adopted from a rescue centre in Canada.

Meghan and her husband Prince Harry still have two other dogs – another rescue beagle called Mia and a black Labrador called Pula.