In short: the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a young breed with old roots. Its ancestors, small spaniels, lived at the court of King Charles II in the 17th century. The modern breed was only recreated from 1926, when the American Roswell Eldridge offered prizes at Crufts for spaniels "of the old type", as seen in pictures from the time of Charles II. The Kennel Club recognised the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel as a separate breed in 1945, and the FCI gave definitive recognition in 1955.
Timeline of the breed
- 17th century – Kings Charles I and Charles II (reigned 1660–1685) adore small spaniels. The name "King Charles" comes from Charles II.
- 1704 – John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, wins the Battle of Blenheim. His residence, Blenheim Palace, is named after the victory. Red and white spaniels were bred there, which gave the Blenheim colour its name.
- 19th century – a fashion for flat faces changes the King Charles spaniels: they get a domed head and a short nose. This is the look of today's King Charles Spaniel.
- 1926 – Roswell Eldridge offers prizes of 25 pounds at Crufts for a Blenheim dog and bitch of the old type.
- 1928 – the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club is founded. Ann's Son wins and becomes the model for the breed description. He won at Crufts three years in a row (1928–1930).
- 1945 – The Kennel Club recognises the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel as a separate breed.
- 1955 – definitive FCI recognition (20 January).
- 1973 – the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Alansmere Aquarius wins Best in Show at Crufts.
- 1995 – the American Kennel Club (AKC) recognises the breed.
- 2026 – a new version of FCI standard no. 136 applies from 8 September 2026.
The dogs of King Charles II
Contemporaries described the king's fondness for small spaniels. On 4 September 1667 Samuel Pepys wrote in his diary that the king spent the whole council meeting playing with his dog instead of minding the business. John Evelyn recalled that the royal spaniels slept in the king's bedchamber, where the bitches gave birth to their puppies.
These were ancestors of today's Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, not the same breed. The breed in its current form dates from the 20th century.
The advert that started it all
In the 19th century the King Charles spaniels changed: their noses got shorter and their skulls more domed. In 1926 Roswell Eldridge was looking for dogs like those in old paintings: with a longer muzzle, a flat skull and a chestnut spot in the middle of the head. At Crufts he offered prizes of 25 pounds for a Blenheim dog and bitch "of the old type".
Some King Charles Spaniel breeders were reluctant, but breeding began. The breed club was founded in 1928 and the winner, Ann's Son, became the model for the new breed. The word "Cavalier" refers to the Cavaliers, the Royalists who supported King Charles I in the English Civil War.
We explain the differences between the two breeds today in Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs King Charles Spaniel – what's the difference?
The legend of the spot
Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniels often have a chestnut, lozenge-shaped spot on top of the head. The FCI standard calls it a unique feature of the breed. A legend says that in 1704 the Duchess Sarah of Marlborough, waiting for news from the Battle of Blenheim, kept pressing her thumb on the head of a pregnant bitch, and the puppies were born with "the duchess's thumbprint". It is a legend, not historical fact, but a lovely one.
Read more about coat colours in Cavalier King Charles Spaniel colours: Blenheim, Tricolour, Black and Tan and Ruby.
The breed today
In the AKC ranking for 2025 the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was the 12th most popular breed in the USA. In the UK it was 10th in Kennel Club registrations for 2025 and the most popular breed in the toy group. The FCI standard describes it as sporting, affectionate, cheerful and "absolutely fearless".
Frequently asked questions
When was the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel created?
Recreating the breed started in 1926. The breed club was founded in 1928, and The Kennel Club recognised it as a separate breed in 1945.
Where does the name "King Charles" come from?
From King Charles II, who loved small spaniels. "Cavalier" refers to the Royalists who supported Charles I.
Were Charles II's dogs Cavalier King Charles Spaniels?
No. They were ancestors of the breed. The modern breed dates from the 20th century.
For fans of royal history
The spaniel-on-a-throne design is available on the Royal Cavalier sweatshirt, the Royal Cavalier hoodie and the Royal Cavalier mug.
Sources
- FCI – breed standard no. 136, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- AKC – Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: history behind the breed
- AKC – Most popular dog breeds 2025
- The Diary of Samuel Pepys, entry for 4 September 1667 (Project Gutenberg)
Author: Michał Mitek, founder of Cavisie.pl and owner of a Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Karmelek. The illustrations in this article and some frames in the videos are AI reconstructions. Always talk to your vet about your dog's health.