James Middleton Reveals Accidental Way Kate Middleton and Prince William Met His Future Wife
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09/16/2024 07:06 AM
The brother of Princess Kate tells all in a revealing new memoir, 'Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life,' out Sept. 24
David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty
Alizee Middleton and James Middleton attend the switch on of Bulgari's iconic Serpenti Christmas lights on November 12, 2021 in London, England.James Middleton is sharing the unusual way he introduced his future wife to his sister Kate Middleton and Prince William.
Writing in his new searingly-honest memoir, Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life, James, 37, reveals that it happened by accident after he and Alizee Thevenet made a last-minute decision to stay at his parent's home in Bucklebury in rural Berkshire and let themselves into the house late at night.
Unknown to him, William and Kate and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were also at the home — although he didn't realize until he was woken by some giggles "at the bedroom door" from George and Charlotte.
"Alizee is still sound asleep, so I gently shush the children and we go downstairs where Catherine and William are drinking their early morning tea in the kitchen," he writes in an excerpt from the book published in the Daily Mail on Monday, Sept. 16.
"I'm about to take a cup up to Alizee when she appears at the kitchen door. She has just got out of bed, her hair still tousled, and she is wearing one of my shirts."
David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty
Alizee Thevenet and James Middleton in London in July 2022"In situations like this, Alizee is wonderfully French. She does not panic or rush upstairs to get dressed," adds James. "Instead, she just greets everyone warmly as if it's not remotely unusual to be meeting her boyfriend's sister and brother-in-law for the first time wearing an oversized man's shirt."
" 'Hello,' " she says, proffering her hand and with no awkwardness at all we're soon all chatting and the children are asking all kinds of cheeky questions at 100 miles per hour."
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Middleton and Thevenet first wed in the south of France in 2021.
He credits his cocker spaniel Ella for introducing him to his wife – who works in financial tech in London's banking district — after his dog wandered over to a table at a bar in the upmarket Chelsea neighborhood of London while he was enjoying a night out with a friend.
"I jump up and walk over to apologize," he writes in the book. "But by this time Ella is lying blissfully on her back having her tummy tickles."
Related: James Middleton Says He 'Pushed' Family Away During Dark Time When He Almost Took His Own Life
James Middleton/Instagram
Kate Middleton and James Middleton in an undated picture which he featured on his instagram in March 2024As he said sorry for Ella, Alizee looked up and she mistook him for a waiter (as he was still clutching the menu). She told him that they were still waiting for their drink. "I don't disabuse her of the idea, I just go inside to the bar and order drinks for her and her friend. I'm caught off balance, captivated," Middleton adds.
As he wound up his own visit, Middleton went to the bar, paid for the drinks and left a note with the bar staff to give to Alizee.
"I don't usually do this. I have no idea if I'm barking up the wrong tree and forgive me if I am, but I was wondering if you might like to go for a drink sometime, or maybe in the future, Here is my number,'" his note said.
He signed it James and Ella "adding for clarity (dog)'." She called back that night.
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