James Middleton, the younger brother of Princess Kate, has made a heartbreaking statement about his family as he releases his debut book Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life
Princess Kate’s brother has made a candid admission about his very famous family, in a heartbreaking discussion ahead of the release of his debut book.
The Princess of Wales gets on well with her younger siblings Pippa and James, who both had important roles to play in her 2011 wedding to Prince William. And although the 42-year-old is now well-established in palace life, she hasn’t forgotten her happy upbringing in the charming village of Bucklebury.
Indeed, for Prince William, the close-knit Middletons have long provided an ‘ordinary’ refuge from the pressures and pomp of palace life, while hands-on grandparents Michael and Carole are known to play an active role in the lives of Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince.
And when Kate was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, the Middletons rallied around the Wales clan, providing them with a much-needed ‘safety blanket’. However, when it came to the topic of his mental health, James, 37, initially struggled to open up to his family.
In his new book Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life, businessman James writes about his struggles with depression, which came with an ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) diagnosis, and how his beloved dog Ella helped him deal with suicidal thoughts at a time of deep despair.
As an ambassador for Dog’s Trust and Pets as Therapy, animal lover James is passionate about championing the power of man’s best friend when navigating turbulent times. In a recent interview with Hello! magazine, James, who is thankfully now in a much better place with his mental health, admitted: “Only Ella gave me cause to keep living.”
Father-of-one James began to suffer with his mental health in 2017 and went on to seek help through therapy and finding all-important coping mechanisms. However, it took some time before he felt able to confide in his supportive family. He shared: “I needed to understand it myself, and I knew that my family wouldn’t necessarily understand it.”
In the same interview, James, who married French financial analyst Alizée Thevenet back in 2021 shed some light on his family bonds at times of crisis. He revealed: “We are certainly a close family that goes through things together. That was the experience I had through my challenges, and I certainly feel like it’s something that her [Kate’s] family and our family are doing too.”
In the book, which will be on shelves next week, James also offered a sweet anecdote about the moment he and Pippa learned their big sister was going to be the future Queen of England. In an excerpt published by the Mail Online, proud brother James recalled how his family learned of the royal engagement between William and Kate around ‘a day or so’ before the official announcement in November 2010.
James wrote: “Catherine, Pippa and I go out for a walk with Ella and Tilly to our local pub in a village near Bucklebury. We sit in a corner, chatting quietly. Pippa and I want to be visibly excited, but we have to tamp down our emotions so no one suspects a thing. We make a quiet acknowledgement that we’ll always be there for each other, look out for one another, support each other. No matter how crazy things get.”
No doubt this promise was on James’ mind as Kate announced her cancer diagnosis, prompting him to pen a moving Instagram post tribute to the princess he views first and foremost as his sister.
Sharing a childhood pic of him and Kate against a mountainous backdrop, James said: “Over the years, we have climbed many mountains together. As a family, we will climb this one with you too.”
If you’re struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch
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