...
By James Crawford-Smith
Royal Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Princess Kate's brother, James Middleton, has praised the "support" Prince William gave his family as they came to terms with the public and media interest that engulfed them when the royals' relationship became public.
In a new interview given to mark the upcoming publication of his memoir, Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life, Middleton said he found the level of media interest that surrounded his sister and family "shocking" at first and that he had "never seen a royal wedding" before he agreed to give a reading at William and Kate's 2011 ceremony.
Speaking to the Sunday Times in Britain this week, Middleton noted that despite the efforts that were made to shield his family from the negative aspects of having an association with the royals, the public interest "added pressure" to his already fragile mental health.
Read More on Entertainment
...
"William was a fantastic support for us as a family," he said. "He did everything he could to protect us from the intense interest, not just in Catherine, but also her immediate family.
"But at that time I was already in a vulnerable state of mind and it was an added pressure."
Kate's family have been regularly included in high profile events alongside William and the royals in recent years.
In 2023, Kate's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, James and sibling Pippa Matthews, were all in attendance at the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
Middleton's memoir is dedicated to his beloved late dog, "Ella," who he credits with giving him the strength and support not to end his own life during a period of deep depression in 2017.
In the book he describes Ella as his "shield" who supported him through many tough times, including the 2011 royal wedding where Kate had asked him to perform a bible reading, despite being dyslexic.
When asked why he agreed to do it under the circumstances, Middleton told the Sunday Times: "I'd never seen a royal wedding."
"There hadn't been one in my lifetime," he explained. "Not a big one anyway. I wasn't aware of the scale or the global interest. I just felt privileged that my sister was asking me to do it, and it meant something to her. I wanted to make sure I did it."
After managing to perform the duty without incident on the big day, he said he received an offer to star in his own Hollywood movie with an offer exceeding $1 million, which he declined.
...
As well as providing an emotional account of the mental health journey he went through in 2017 leading to his diagnosis with clinical depression and attention deficit disorder, Middleton's book includes a number of lighthearted anecdotes.
In an extract published by the Daily Mail, he revealed how his young nephew, Prince George, and niece, Princess Charlotte, gave a "giggling" reaction when they were introduced to his now wife, the French financier Azilee Thevenet for the first time.
Middleton also described his touching relationship with Queen Elizabeth II, who he compared to his own grandparents.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "988" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.
"Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life" by James Middleton is published in the United States by Pegasus Books and released on September 26.
James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek*'s royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on* Newsweek*'s The Royals Facebook page.*
Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We'd love to hear from you.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines