Family has become especially important to the Middletons over the past year as they came together to support Princess Kate following her cancer diagnosis.
Kate, 43, recently shared a message of “renewal and resilience” during a Mental Health Awareness Week video, filmed on her wedding anniversary trip with Prince William.
She described nature as her refuge over the past year, calling spring a time of “rebirth, hope, and new beginnings.”
Meanwhile, her younger brother James Middleton, 38, talks about his emotional memoir Meet Ella, highlighting the clear similarities between their outlooks on life.
In this exclusive interview, the youngest Middleton sibling opens up about the strong bond within their family and praises the resilience of his sisters and mother, Carole.
He says, “I’m incredibly lucky to have my sisters, Catherine and Pippa, not just as family but as close friends. They’ve witnessed both my best moments and my struggles, and have always been there when I needed them the most.”
James describes sibling love as something special and complex, saying, “You can’t choose your siblings, and it can be complicated and take effort, but when it’s strong, it’s one of the most powerful bonds there is.”
He credits his sisters with playing a key role in shaping who he is today. The three siblings grew up in Berkshire with their mother Carole, a business owner, and their father Michael, a former British Airways manager.
James says the three siblings were “infinitely fortunate” to grow up in a home filled with love and laughter, and he especially honors the strength and influence of the three women in the family.
James explains that his sisters have always been emotionally open, expressive, and sensitive to those around them, and growing up surrounded by that emotional intelligence has influenced him deeply—even if he didn’t fully recognize it at the time.
James reflects that growing up with strong, compassionate women gave him permission to feel deeply, even though expressing his emotions wasn’t always easy. Like many men, he struggled to share how he really felt, especially during his lowest moments.
But the example of his sisters, leading with honesty and kindness, helped him see that vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness. This foundation later allowed him to open up in therapy, through writing his book, and in honest talks with loved ones — something he’s deeply thankful for.
James also highlights Kate’s compassion, shown recently at a Buckingham Palace garden party where she met the family of Liz Hatton, a teenage photographer who passed away from aggressive cancer last year.
Kate offered comfort and support, encouraging them to stay in touch and offering to help with fundraising, showing her caring leadership during difficult times.
James Middleton, who married French financial analyst Alizee Thevenet in 2021, revealed his vulnerability in his memoir released last September, sharing the struggles of a tough year for his family.
Though his story reflects a privileged upbringing with prep school and foreign holidays, it also delves deeply into his battle with depression and mental health issues. A key moment was his “darkest night” in November 2017, when he felt utterly empty and even contemplated suicide. His dog, Ella, was the reason he chose to live, inspiring the memoir’s title, Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life.
The book isn’t all heavy, though. James shares lighter moments like the time he panicked meeting Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, accidentally mixing up their titles, which made everyone try to hide their laughter. He also recounts how Ella, given special permission to stay in his guest room at Sandringham, escaped to the kitchen—prompting the late Queen’s comforting remark, “Well, dogs will be dogs.”
James says his family is very proud of him—not just for writing the book, but for the personal journey he’s been through and his openness in sharing it. However, he also understands that some parts of his story have been really tough for his parents to read.
James acknowledges that it was really tough for his parents to read about his struggles, as seeing their child in pain is never easy. But they’ve been very supportive, understanding that writing the book was a crucial step for James to heal and move forward, especially after losing Ella.
Ella, who was the mother of Kate and William’s late dog Lupo, passed away in January 2023, just before James and Alizee learned they were expecting their first child. Knowing that their son Inigo, now 19 months old, would never meet Ella inspired James to capture those memories in his book.
James shares how the idea to write the book struck him when he thought about his son Inigo never getting to meet Ella. He began writing down every memory and adventure they shared, wanting Inigo to know the dog that connected his parents and to understand how special Ella was. Their lives were deeply intertwined, and the book grew naturally from that bond.
For James, telling Ella’s story was about more than just himself—it was about celebrating the powerful connection humans can have with animals, especially when they reach us in ways people sometimes can’t. He wanted to honor Ella and that incredible relationship.
Writing the book wasn’t easy for James, especially with dyslexia making structuring difficult, and he admits he’s not sure he could do it again. But it was also very rewarding, giving him a new way to process his feelings. He was helped by co-writer Frances Hardy to bring everything together.
James finds it rare and surprising that he’s written such a personal memoir, especially given his connection to the royal family. He jokes that his old English teacher would never have thought he’d write a book, so its success as a bestseller feels humbling.
The book has opened up new conversations and allowed him to share parts of his journey he hadn’t talked about before, which has been overwhelming in a positive way.
Writing about Ella’s death on January 7, 2023, was the hardest part. James has come to understand that grief isn’t something you simply get over, but something you learn to live with—it becomes part of you.
Writing helped him honor Ella’s life and the huge impact she had on him. He hopes that by sharing the difficult parts of his experience, others who are grieving might feel less alone. For James, joy and grief are deeply connected—you can’t have one without the other.
James says the biggest milestone in his mental health journey was realizing he might actually be depressed. Despite his loving family and fortunate upbringing, he struggled with shame and wondered why he should feel that way. Over time, with professional help, he learned that depression isn’t a personal failing and that it’s okay to ask for help.
Therapy, especially Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, gave him tools to challenge negative thoughts. He also credits his dog Ella for giving him motivation to get up, go outside, and care. James emphasizes that recovery wasn’t a single breakthrough but a slow, ongoing process where he learned to live more honestly and accept support instead of hiding from it.
James wants the conversation about mental health to continue, especially because suicide remains the leading cause of death among men under 50—a statistic he finds terrifying. He believes too many men suffer in silence, feeling they must “tough it out” alone, and stresses that this needs to change. Speaking openly about men’s mental health, vulnerability, and asking for help is a positive step, but James acknowledges there’s still a long way to go.
Now, as a father to a young boy, he feels it’s not just important but necessary to keep these conversations alive for the future.
James wants his son Inigo to grow up understanding that emotions are nothing to hide or be ashamed of. He believes real strength comes from being vulnerable and honest about how you feel. James hopes Inigo learns it’s okay not to be okay—and that asking for help is not only acceptable but important.
He wants Inigo to truly know and be proud of who he is, thriving in a world that accepts him fully without having to fight for acceptance. If James’s own journey and openness can help create that kind of world for his son, he will carry that with immense pride.