The eldest son of British King Charles III met his future wife while studying at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. Prince William, who was raised in a strict palace environment, enjoys visiting the warm and close-knit Middleton family, where, in addition to Kate, her sister Pippa and brother James also grew up.
The brother of 43-year-old Princess of Wales shared a challenge the prince faced before marrying Kate. The Middleton family loves dogs and has always had pets in their home. James gave a rare interview to a glossy magazine, where he was asked if there was a specific condition William had to meet before joining their family.
“We were all happy with the way William treated our furry friends. He loves dogs. As a child, he had a very strong bond with a black Labrador named Widgeon, so he knew what dogs are capable of,” Middleton said.
James lives in a spacious farmhouse in Bucklebury, Berkshire, with his 36-year-old wife Alizée Thevenet and their one-and-a-half-year-old son Inigo. The young family’s estate is currently home to six dogs — four cocker spaniels (Zulu, Inka, Luna, and Nala) and two golden retrievers (Mabel and Isla). Their pets range in age from 2 to 14 years old. The British businessman admitted that he suffered from clinical depression for many years and even had thoughts of suicide. It was his beloved dog Ella who helped him get through that difficult time. Through Ella, he also met his future wife. Alizée turned out to be a big animal lover as well. Ella passed away at the age of 15, and her death was a painful blow for James.
The future queen’s brother shared that he enjoys living in the Berkshire countryside. Carol and Michael’s house is just five minutes away from his. Kate and Pippa have also settled nearby. The Prince and Princess of Wales spend most of their time with their children at their country residence — Adelaide Cottage near Windsor Castle.
“Pippa and James live about 20 minutes away, and Catherine and William are 30 minutes away. It’s wonderful. We are a close family, and we’re lucky to see each other often, and my parents play an important role in keeping us all connected.”
James also spoke about his close bond with his sisters and even joked about it. “Being the youngest in the family has its pros and cons. The pros are that you can get away with a lot… I joke that I had three mothers growing up. I had my mum and two sisters who mothered me. I’m very lucky. We had a fantastic childhood, and they included me in everything they did — and still do. Now I’m in my thirties, and we’re still close,” James shared.