Of all of the Middletons, Kate Middleton’s brother James appears probably the most comfy sharing particulars about his non-public life. Whereas Kate’s on-line presence is restricted to her function as Princess of Wales, James has a reasonably energetic Instagram web page the place he shares an excellent bit about his life. He has additionally penned visitor essays for various publications and given loads of interviews. Their sister, Pippa Middleton, and fogeys, Carole and Michael Middleton, however, have largely shied away from all that.

By way of that publicity, James has proven his bizarre facet. One factor that’s clear from his socials is that James loves his canine. Whereas many people are animal lovers, he takes his ardour a bit too far. In January 2023, he misplaced his beloved black cocker spaniel, Ella, which is understandably a tragic occasion in James’ life. Nevertheless, his show of affection for her could be excessive. Need an instance? He has a tiny portrait of her that he carries with him in every single place.

In Could 2023, Ella even accompanied him to the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. “Ella nonetheless comes with me in every single place I’m going… even to the coronation. Very proud day to be British. God Save the King,” he captioned an Instagram submit that includes the paintings. However his declarations of affection for Ella aren’t the one manner he has proven his quirky facet. From celebrating the queen on his marriage ceremony anniversary to speaking about his sister when no different Middleton does, James could be a bit bizarre at occasions.

On probably the most romantic vacation of the yr, individuals have a tendency to make use of social media to showcase their love for his or her important others. James Middleton is not any completely different, besides he consists of his canine amongst his SOs, proper on par along with his spouse, Alizée Thevenet. “I used to be misplaced, and Ella discovered Alizee. Collectively, they saved me. Ella led me to my soul mate, my every thing. For that purpose I’ll at all times have two valentines…” he celebrated in a Valentine’s Day Instagram submit in 2024. Loving a pet is one factor, however celebrating them on V-Day is… bizarre?

Add to that the truth that Ella had been lifeless for greater than a yr, and his submit simply provides off unusual vibes throughout. In addition to, that wasn’t the one time. In 2025, Middleton did not even embody his spouse in his Valentine’s Day submit, selecting to give attention to his son and one in every of his canine. “The way it began… Valentines 2024. The way it’s going… Valentines 2025. Pure Love,” he captioned the Instagram submit that included an image of child Inigo holding the canine’s paw and one other of him as a toddler hugging the pet.

The development is not new. He saved the date in 2023 to rejoice simply Ella, making no point out of his spouse of 1 yr. “You’ll at all times be my Valentines Ella. I planted a rose at the moment so subsequent yr hopefully I’ll have a rose to place in her grave,” he captioned the submit.

On September 11, 2022, a yr after James Middleton’s marriage ceremony to Alizée Thevenet, he celebrated their very first anniversary by sharing the above picture of Queen Elizabeth II’s marriage ceremony to Prince Philip in November 1947. “Immediately is our 1st marriage ceremony anniversary. Nevertheless it would not appear proper to rejoice whereas mourning the lack of Queen Elizabeth II,” he captioned the Instagram submit. Elizabeth had died three days earlier, on September 8, 2022. “As an alternative I am sharing a photograph of the wedding of the Queen & the Duke of Edinburgh on their marriage ceremony 74 years in the past.”

On the day the monarch died, Middleton paid his respects with a heartfelt Instagram submit that highlighted their shared ardour for canine. “Queen Elizabeth II, the epitome of regular grace, resolve and reassurance. Our fixed in a world of change. Thanks for a lifetime of service & management,” he wrote, together with photographs of Elizabeth together with her beloved corgis by the years. It is not like he hadn’t already paid tribute to the queen. Nonetheless, he weirdly selected to honor her on his milestone anniversary.

In addition to, his spouse appeared like an afterthought in his submit. “To my darling Alizee I stay up for sharing as many with you in our lifetime,” he wrote on the finish of the caption. We weren’t the one ones who discovered this a bit odd. “Maybe a subdued celebration of your love for Alizee is likely to be the best way to go,” one commenter recommended.

When he misplaced Ella, James Middleton had his first style of grief. That is comprehensible, on condition that she performed an important function in Middleton’s psychological well being journey. “For 15 years Ella has been at my facet, from my darkest days to my happiest. I will miss her terribly,” he wrote on Instagram. Nevertheless, he has maintained that dropping a pet is likely to be the worst sort of grieving an individual will expertise.

Greater than two years after dropping Ella, Middleton nonetheless defended this. “The explanation that dropping a canine typically feels more durable than dropping a relative or a good friend is, I believe, as a result of the best way that they love us is so uncomplicated,” he wrote in an essay for The Occasions in November 2024. “Their easy request in life is that you just love them again — and with that there is one thing so sincere and pure.” There isn’t any doubt that dropping a beloved pet is a painful occasion, however to check it to dropping relations or buddies is a bit bizarre. 

This notion may even come throughout as offensive to, say, a dad or mum mourning the loss of a kid. Maybe Middleton simply hasn’t handled the lack of somebody near him. Nevertheless, he is not alone in his sentiment. “We’re at all times rising away from our mother and father and our kids are at all times rising from us. However the bond we’ve got with our canine is everlasting,” an Instagram consumer commented in one in every of Middleton’s posts.

James Middleton is now greatest recognized for his pet food enterprise, however he had his entrepreneurial begin promoting desserts. Whereas loads of the designs made by Good Desserts had been family-friendly, many weren’t. These included some displaying the phrases: “Horny bum that wiggles when ironing” and “Scrummy boobies that make my fingers completely satisfied.” In his protection, these designs had been listed below the “naughty part” of the web site, which required customers to verify being 18 or older to entry, in keeping with Self-importance Honest. 

However that did not stop information about it from doing the rounds when he launched his erotic-cake line in 2012. It did not assist his case that Kate Middleton had been a member of the royal household for only a yr, when curiosity in her and her previous was at its peak. James was disenchanted within the criticism he acquired. “They’re clearly supposed to be humorous and are clearly not supposed to trigger any offense, as is sort of apparent,” he advised the Every day Mail.

The truth is, he anticipated extra from his countrymen. “The Nice British public is famend all through the world for its humorousness, and a cake design is hardly more likely to trigger it to lose it. We intend to embrace that sense of humour,” he added. James’ thought for the naughty designs got here from the success of personalised playing cards of the time. “We thought we’d add to the thrill of a celebration and produce you personalised desserts,” he advised the Every day Mail in July 2012.

The Middletons are a decent bunch. Since being thrust into the highlight because of Kate Middleton’s relationship with Prince William, they’ve embraced the royal household’s unofficial perception to “by no means complain, by no means clarify” and stayed largely mum about their household. James Middleton is an exception. Whereas his visitor essays within the U.Okay.’s largest publications have centered on his personal life, he has given uncommon perception into his well-known sister’s character.

In 2023, he threw a brotherly snark whereas sharing his pleasure in Kate’s work. “She’s my sister, so I do know all of her quirks and every thing and to see her blossoming in that function… I am very pleased with her,” he mentioned on “Good Morning Britain.” That wasn’t the primary time. In 2019, he revealed that his mother and father and sisters attended remedy periods when he was being handled for melancholy. Whereas courageous, his revelation supplied distinctive perception into the Middletons’ non-public issues.

“The one factor they may do was simply come to a few of the remedy periods to begin to perceive,” he advised The Telegraph. And amid the Princess of Wales’ most cancers journey, he was the one Middleton to make an announcement. “Through the years, we’ve got climbed many mountains collectively. As a household, we’ll climb this one with you too,” he wrote on Instagram. The comment was so out of character that The Telegraph hypothesized that Kate will need to have given him the okay to submit. Whether or not that is the case is unclear, however James definitely strays from the norm typically sufficient.

Should you or somebody you already know wants assist with psychological well being, please contact the Disaster Textual content Line by texting HOME to 741741, name the Nationwide Alliance on Psychological Sickness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or go to the Nationwide Institute of Psychological Well being web site.