James Middleton's Honest Reaction to His Role at Kate and William's Wedding: 'What Were They Thinking?'

09/14/2024 08:28 PM

The Princess of Wales' brother also discussed his dog's impact in his new memoir, 'Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life'

James Middleton, who was diagnosed with dyslexia at 11 years old, is revealing how he pulled off his Bible reading at Kate Middleton and Prince William's royal wedding.

Kate's younger brother, 37, shared in an excerpt from his forthcoming memoir — Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life — published by theDaily Mail on Saturday, Sept. 14, that he was taken aback when the couple asked him to speak during their 2011 wedding at Westminster Abbey.

"A reading? I thought they were joking," he wrote.

"My mind raced back to school and my stumbling, ­incoherent efforts to read in front of the class," James continued. "What were they ­thinking? Being dyslexic, reading is my least favorite occupation."

He recalled asking them, "Seriously?" They responded, "Seriously."

Related: James Middleton Says He 'Pushed' Family Away During Dark Time When He Almost Took His Own Life

He admitted he "fibbed breezily" and let them know that he would do it, adding, "if that was what my sister and William wanted, then of course I'd do my best not to let them down." 

He said they told him that it would be "the only Bible reading in the service" and he didn't know "whether to be honored or appalled" at the time. He then practiced for months in order to recite it properly.

"I ­carried it with me everywhere, taking it out of my pocket to practice the lines, over which I tripped and stumbled, transposing syllables, getting my ps and bs — my nemeses — in a twist," he explained. 

However, with the help of voice coach Anthony Gordon Lennox, who had "helped David Cameron when he was [prime minister]" and "offered" to assist him with the reading, he said he was able to make progress.

James noted that his dog was with him throughout the training process to help him "relax." And although Ella was not allowed inside Westminster Abbey on wedding day, she was there the day before for rehearsal.

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"I stood there, looked round, spotted Ella, smiled," he recalled. "I wanted to laugh, but I counted to four and the giggle subsided. ... But tomorrow, I reminded myself, Ella wouldn't be with me. It would just be me, a packed Abbey and a worldwide TV audience of about two billion people."

On wedding day, he carried a "crumpled phonetic copy" of the reading.

"I wanted to do [Kate and William] both proud," he said. "I glanced up and saw happy faces I recognised in the congregation and the nervousness fell away. I took a deep breath ... and began."

Related: James Middleton Announces Death of His Dog Ella After 'Short Illness': 'Going to Miss Her Terribly'

He deemed it a success and revealed he "received thousands of messages and invitations to read lessons at churches around the globe" — though he celebrated in a more low-key way with his dog after the ceremony. 

"After all the wonder of the day, the service, then the celebrations, all I wanted to do was throw on a pair of old jeans and take Ella out for a walk," James remembered. "It wasn't until then that I allowed myself to think about how momentous the day had been."

Ella died in January 2023 following a "short illness." 

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