Fuddlewuddle, the £17 puppy making her laugh

THE toy delighting Princess Charlotte is a Fuddlewuddle Puppy costing £17 from British company Jellycat.

Smaller and larger versions are on sale for £11 and £30. Made of 100 per cent polyester, they are said to be suitable for children from birth.

Jellycat, formed by brothers William and Thomas Gatacre in 1999, sells more than a million soft toys a year worldwide. Its best-seller is the Bashful Bunny, typically selling for £16. The puppy seen here is produced in Indonesia; other toys sold by the firm are made in China.

William Gatacre, who gave up a career in the US oil industry to start the toy business, was delighted to learn that his puppy had received the royal seal of approval.

Mr Gatacre, 58, who lives in West London, said: ‘That’s our Fuddlewuddle Puppy – the pictures look lovely.’

Websites for mothers feature heated debate about how to wash Jellycat toys. But while the firm advises simply wiping the surface with a soft cloth, Mr Gatacre had good news for Kate – it is usually safe to put grubby ones in a washing machine if they are inside a pillow case and on a low temperature.