In his new memoir, “Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life,” James Middleton opens up about the moment he and his sister Pippa Middleton found out about Kate Middleton’s engagement to Prince William.
The big news came in 2010, just before it was made public, and it was a life-changing moment not just for Kate, but for the entire Middleton family.
James Middleton reveals how Kate shared engagement news
According to James, the three siblings were gathered at their local pub, The Old Boot, near their parents’ home in Bucklebury, England.
It was there that Kate shared the exciting news in a quiet corner, telling her brother and sister that her engagement to the future king would be announced in just a day or two.
“Pippa and I want to be visibly excited, but we have to tamp down our emotions so no one suspects a thing,” James recalled in his memoir.
William proposed to Kate in October 2010, during a romantic getaway to Mount Kenya, but the news wasn’t shared with the world until mid-November.
By then, the family had already taken the time to process the momentous occasion in private.
James writes fondly of that day in the pub, reflecting on how the siblings quietly vowed to always stand by one another, no matter how chaotic their lives might become.
When Kate and William wed at Westminster Abbey in April 2011, James played a significant role in the ceremony, reading a passage from the Bible in front of millions.
That moment earned him an unexpected $1 million offer from a U.S. production company to capitalize on his newfound fame—a tempting deal he graciously declined.
In his memoir, James also opens up about how watching Kate and William’s relationship grow over the years inspired him.
“I wanted one day to experience what they were experiencing as a couple,” he said, they are “so clearly a good fit, just right for each other.”
The couple now shares three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
James goes on to discuss his personal struggles, including a battle with mental health that reached its peak in 2017.
He credits his beloved dog Ella, a cocker spaniel, for helping him through those dark times, as well as his family, particularly Kate.
“Catherine had been doing a lot of work with Heads Together, so there was actually more awareness of how to communicate,” he said, noting how both Kate and Pippa were a great source of support, not just for him but for their parents too.
Reflecting on his upbringing, James describes growing up surrounded by “strong, capable women” in his mother Carole, and his two sisters, Kate and Pippa.
“Growing up surrounded by three strong, capable women felt like having three mothers, and I would rely on Catherine and Pippa for advice,” he wrote.
James fondly recalls how, despite being the younger brother, they always made him feel included in their games and social circles, a connection that has remained strong into adulthood.