The Prince and Princess of Wales were criticised by PETA (Image: Getty)

In June, Prince William and Princess Kate were criticised by animal rights activist charity PETA for allowing their cocker spaniel, Orla, to have a litter of puppies. In a picture to mark the Prince of Wales’s 43rd birthday, he was seen sitting on the ground surrounded by the three new additions to the Wales family.

While the image was incredibly sweet, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) attacked the couple for being “staggeringly out of touch” and “churning out a litter” when animal shelters worldwide are “overflowing with puppies desperate for a second chance at a loving home”.

Now, a campaign group has slammed the organisation for firing criticism at William and Kate for raising puppies during the Princess’s cancer recovery and has urged huge brands to reconsider their decision to support PETA.

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Ever since the charity’s comments, advisers at the PETA Watch campaign have urged big companies such as Unilever, The Body Shop, and Ecotricity to reconsider backing the organisation.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Express, adviser Brian Monteith said: “It beggars belief that any high profile and self-respecting business would want to associate with an organisation as extreme as PETA.”

Referring to what the organisation said after William’s birthday image was shared, Mr Monteith explained: “That PETA did not apologise to the Princess of Wales for any upset that its media stunt generated tells you everything about how crass and uncaring its activists are. To try to capitalise on the most difficult time in her life for publicity is despicable.”

The family’s dog Orla has been pictured with the family several times (Image: Getty)

Orla had a starring role in Princess Charlotte’s 7th birthday pictures (Image: KENSINGTON PALACE/AFP via Getty)

He continued: “PETA has form when it comes to seeking publicity by attacking well-known public figures such as members of the Royal Family and celebrities. It is an entirely cynical approach to generating the headlines it needs to survive. No matter how distasteful and shameless its actions, without such media coverage PETA will not attract the public donations from some animal lovers that their extremist campaigning depends on.

“Corporations should not be giving PETA a gloss of credibility by associating with it but looking instead to work with genuine animal welfare charities that are hands-on in developing conservation and running rescue centres or shelters.”

The campaign highlights a series of controversial PETA positions, including calls for a sex strike against meat-eaters and opposition to guide dogs for the blind. Mr Monteith has argued that these tactics put corporate reputations at risk and distract from genuine animal welfare work.

A spokesperson for PETA told the Daily Express: “PETA is highly successful in helping consumers know the facts so they can choose to reduce animal suffering and to help corporations switch to more up-to-date, non-animal testing methods, materials, and more. This sneaky group, backed by animal-abusive industries that profit from animal exploitation, tries to undermine our work via fake news smear campaigns, simply because it threatens their clients’ bottom line.”

The charity urged the couple to copy the King and Queen and adopt (Image: PA)

Back in June when the Prince and Princess of Wales’ new image was shared, the charity urged William and Kate to take a leaf out of King Charles and Queen Camilla’s book, who recently adopted a new rescue puppy, Moley, from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.

PETA’s vice-president of programmes, Elisa Allen, said in a statement: “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, and that churning out a litter in the midst of this animal homelessness crisis is staggeringly out of touch.

“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.”