Sophie’s cuddles for puppy named Lord Louis of Spudringham

The Duchess of Edinburgh paid a visit to Dogs for Autism in Hampshire on Tuesday, the day after her 60th birthday.

The Duchess of Edinburgh was back on royal duty the day after her 60th birthday, cuddling a mischievous Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy called Lord Louis of Spudringham.

Sophie took the nine-week-old dog in her arms, with the playful animal licking her neck and biting one of the duchess’s gold drop earrings.

Sophie cuddle puppy Lord Louis of Spudringham during a visit to Dogs for Autism — Sophie cuddles puppy Lord Louis of Spudringham during a visit to Dogs for Autism (Andrew Matthew/PA)

The puppy was named by a volunteer “puppy parent” after the King’s grandson, Prince Louis, with a nod to Charles’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

Sophie sitting with the puppy on her lap — Nine-week-old Lord Louis of Spudringham sits on the Duchess of Edinburgh’s lap (Andrew Matthews/PA)

“The duchess wanted to take him home with her. She was completely besotted and didn’t want to let him go.”

The Duchess of Edinburgh with Lord Louis of Spudringham during a visit to Dogs for Autism in Alton, Hampshire — Sophie was said to be ‘completely besotted’ with the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy (Andrew Matthews/PA)

The duchess also met trainee assistance dogs Buddy, Jack and Finn, who demonstrated their skills.

Then then-Duchess of Cornwall laughs with Prince Louis, who sits on his grandfather's lap, during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations — Then then-Duchess of Cornwall laughs with Prince Louis, who sits on his grandfather’s lap, during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations (Chris Jackson/PA)

The assistance dogs are trained to mitigate some of the disabling impacts of autism and can help by increasing independence, reducing anxiety and sensory overload, and alerting to emotional dysregulation.

Assistance dog Buddy presents a gift basket to the Duchess of Edinburgh (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Sophie has three dogs of her own – a Cocker Spaniel called Mole, and two black Labradors, Teal and Teasel.

She celebrated her milestone birthday on Monday at home with the Duke of Edinburgh with a day off from engagements.