We have 2 adult cavaliers and one puppy cavalier, aged 9 weeks. The two adults are 7 and 6 1/2. Ellie our 6 1/2 year old will not leave the puppy alone and just wants to continually lick her around the neck and ears. When puppy wants to sleep in her basket, Ellie  still wants to lick her; or lies by the side of the basket. Both elder dogs have been speyed and never had puppies. When we pick the puppy up Ellie is unsettled and tries to go for her neck, not sure if it's meant to be nasty or protective. This sort of behavior, we have never seen it before and very unsure on what if anything, we should do.
Any suggestions we would be very greatfull.

Thank you

Apple.  

P.S. Puppy's name is Rosie.

Sounds like perfectly normal bitch behaviour towards a puppy. Our late GSD bitch never had puppies & was spayed, she claimed every puppy that came into the house as her own & always kept them spotless clean. I certainly oversee the adult dogs with any puppy all the time & rarely intervene. The novelty of having a new puppy will wane, but will probably always be there to some extent, Cavaliers are rarely aggressive, but can be very protective.

counting the weeks to the arrival of my new puppy ;-)

Many thanks, me and my mum have been sat here worrying because Ellie has always been a very timid little girl from being a puppy herself. Therefore her behavior to us doesn't seem right because it doesn't seem like Ellies' personality to be so forward. Forgot to mention we have a Yorkie, with 3 legs and can't stand Rosie the pup lol.

Mine done this to my youngest when she was a pup, the pup is now a yr old and she still licks her ( the other bitch)

Strangly the other 2 bitchs we have dont do it

The one that does clean the pup is young her self ( well now 2) not had pups where the other 2 have and dont pay any attention to the pup

My 10 year BC washes my near 3 year Sheltie and both my pup Shelties, when they come in from the rain she always dries them off, they actually go to her for a wash.

Years ago my 10 year GR would not leave my small cat alone, she used to wash it and carry it around in her mouth, the cat used to curl up in the GR's bed with her. Both the older girls have been spayed and have never had pups but I think they must still have a bit of 'mummy' instinct. :) Sweet I think