PETA has asked King Charles to remove his name from the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, arguing that the royal association lends prestige to a breed it says has been affected by generations of selective breeding.
The animal rights organisation made the request in a letter to Buckingham Palace, claiming that breeding for features such as large eyes, shortened muzzles and rounded heads has contributed to serious health problems in some dogs.
The proposal has already drawn criticism, with one senior Conservative MP dismissing it as 'nonsense'.
Why PETA Wants 'King Charles' Removed From the Spaniel Name
Ingrid Newkirk, PETA's president, called on the King to publicly distance himself from the breed and encourage the removal of 'King Charles' from its name.
According to the letter, PETA believes the royal connection helps make the dogs more desirable and therefore contributes indirectly to continued demand for the breed.
'The royal name, like the royal warrant, lends prestige to this beleaguered breed and helps make it desirable,' Newkirk wrote.
She argued that the King could use his position to send a message about responsible breeding by making clear that the monarchy does not endorse breeding dogs for exaggerated physical characteristics.
PETA specifically raised concerns about neurological problems, difficulty walking and, in some cases, paralysis. Newkirk also claimed that selective breeding can result in skulls becoming too small for the brain, with brain tissue pushed through an opening at the back of the skull.
The organisation described the consequences as a 'terrible cost' of breeding for particular appearances.
Those claims, however, were presented by PETA as part of its campaign and should not be taken to mean that every Cavalier King Charles Spaniel suffers from these conditions.
Did your "healthy" purebred puppy have hidden health problems you were never warned about? 💔 One family's devastating experience with a King Cavalier puppy is now at the center of her lawsuit against Petland.
— PETA (@peta) August 12, 2026
See what happened, and why this lawsuit can change everything 👇 pic.twitter.com/jvQLrYZg4E
The breed has a long association with the British monarchy. Small toy spaniels appeared in royal paintings from the 16th to 18th centuries, while the name is linked to Charles II and the Cavaliers, supporters of the monarchy during the English Civil War.
PETA Criticised Over Calls To Remove King Charles' Name
The suggestion has received a distinctly chilly response from critics of the campaign.
Sir John Hayes, a senior Conservative MP and chairman of the Common Sense group of MPs, said there was a legitimate case for responsible dog breeding but questioned why the breed's historical name should be blamed for its health problems.
'The King Charles Cavalier Spaniel has been a much-loved dog breed for generations,' Hayes told The Telegraph.
He called PETA's proposal 'a bizarre suggestion' and argued that changing the name would do little to address concerns surrounding breeding practices.
'It's absolutely true dog breeding should be responsible and sensible but I'm not sure that's anything to do with it being named after the cavaliers and the King,' he said.
Michael Levy, chairman of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club, also rejected the suggestion that the breed should be viewed collectively as unhealthy.
Levy told The Telegraph that Cavaliers remain popular family pets because of their 'fantastic, friendly temperament and easy maintenance routine'.
He cited Royal Kennel Club statistics, saying the average lifespan for a Cavalier is 11 years, which he said is longer than that of many pure-bred breeds. He also argued that describing all Cavaliers as sick was 'totally untrue', noting that many have long and active lives.
Levy added that preservation breeders were working with what he described as the 'healthiest stock possible'.
PETA is using the association with King Charles as a way to challenge the demand for a particular type of dog, while breeders and supporters argue that responsible breeding can address health concerns without severing a centuries-old connection.
The King himself has not been quoted in the source material as responding to PETA's request. His better-known canine companions are Jack Russells, with Charles and Queen Camilla adopting Bluebell and Beth from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in 2017.
