James Middleton has opened up about how his late dog Ella 'saved his life' and helped him recover from depression when he struggled to speak to family and friends. The entrepreneur, who is the brother of the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, appeared on Friday's This Morning where he discussed his mental health journey.
James Middleton on This Morning
Speaking with ITV hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary, James, 39, credited his dog for reminding him how to live a normal life after suffering with depression. Diagnosed with depression in 2017, he underwent therapy to regain control of his life. He was joined on the sofa by his beloved pooch as he explained how his pets 'saved his life'.
James said: 'During the time when I had clinical depression... Ella was the dog that I tribute to saving my life. It was a time when I couldn't connect with humans, I couldn't translate [it] and somehow I think Ella understood how I was feeling.'
The Role of Dogs in Therapy
He added of how Ella and his new dog Isla helped him: 'They have this unique way to communicate with us and it doesn't need words. During therapy sessions, I couldn't say certain things out loud and so my therapist said, "Go home and talk to Ella" and I was able to do so, and fortunately Ella was able to bring things out of me that I couldn't vocalise previously.'
Asked if he had been suffering from depression since childhood, James continued: 'For sure, it was there, and I think it was part of my own stigma that I brushed it under the carpet and thought "what do I have to be depressed about?" I've been open about having a very privileged upbringing, so I didn't think I could be depressed, but then I started to understand it more and that it is there, it's in all of us, and it's our responsibility to ensure that we do take control of it and look after it.'
Living in the Moment with Dogs
He added that as well as Ella, his new dog Isla has also helped him: 'For me, having a dog, Isla and the others, has made it easier as they get me up in the morning, we get out for some fresh air, we go for a walk - they come over and bump into you and say, "Hey, come on". I'm reminded every day that my dogs live in the moment, Isla is just being herself, she's not trying to impress anyone and that's something that we as humans can learn.'
Previous Revelations on Loose Women
Back in 2024, James recounted his struggles in opening up to family members while battling depression and revealed how he confided in his beloved late spaniel Ella. He appeared on Loose Women as part of their 25-hour talkathon fundraising for the mental health charity Get Britain Talking.
In an unfiltered conversation with hosts Kaye Adams, Colleen Nolan, Janet Street-Porter and Judi Love, James revealed that his mental health first started to nosedive when he was at boarding school. 'Exams didn't reflect my knowledge base,' James candidly explained. 'On paper, I was failing and so I was made to feel like a failure. Expectations of you are a round hole and I was a square peg. I felt like the edges of me were being shaved off to get me through this round hole.'
Despite being at his lowest, James admitted: 'The hardest people I found it to speak to were my family. I think it was embarrassment. There was a stigma in myself because I've had such a privileged upbringing, how could I possibly be depressed? But it's an illness, it's a cancer of the mind.'
Family Support and Animal Comfort
James told the Loose Women panel that his family knew something was wrong but the more they tried to reach out, the more he became 'a recluse'. 'Only after therapy and chatting a lot was it suggested that my family should be involved and I'm so grateful for their patience. When the timing was right, they were there. They didn't just give up and say: "Deal with it yourself".'
Instead of speaking to his family, James found himself seeking comfort in his dog Ella. The mental health campaigner said: 'I've connected with animals more than humans. Animals don't judge you and that's something that is really comforting. Ella was one of those dogs, I'll never try and replace her. She was there when I was a teenager all the way to adulthood and passed away right before we found out my wife was expecting.'
Ella's Impact from University to Adulthood
James was in his first year at the University of Edinburgh when he brought Ella into his life. He said that having something he 'was responsible for' helped keep him afloat during his darkest days. 'Ella saved my life because there were some very dark days where the anxiety meant I couldn't sleep and the turmoil that was going on in my mind, I just wanted to shut it off. It may have been pouring with rain or freezing cold but you still have to put a coat on and go outside. It was the ability to take yourself out of that moment and see a dog charging around and happy gives you that serotonin rush that really helped me.'
The entrepreneur went on to found raw dog food brand Ella & Co in 2020, named after his beloved spaniel. On the website, James reveals that Ella came to 'every single one' of his therapy sessions. He wrote: 'Just being by my side, she was helping me tremendously and had an immense positive impact. It's not always been easy for me to talk about my struggles with anxiety and depression, but Ella has been the one to encourage me to get the help I needed. I believe she is a large reason I was able to overcome the deep struggles I have had with my mental illnesses.'
Ella Introduced James to His Wife
James credits Ella for not only saving his life but also introducing him to his wife Alizée. Writing in The Telegraph in 2021, James explained he met Alizée in 2014 at the South Kensington Club when Ella 'made a beeline for Alizée'. James, who was 'embarrassed', went over 'to apologise and bring Ella back', recalling how Alizée thought he was a 'waiter' and 'ordered her drink while continuing to stroke Ella, who at this point was on her back lapping up the attention.'
If you have been affected by issues raised in this story, support is available 24/7 from the Samaritans by calling 116 123 or emailing jo@samaritans.org. This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1 and ITVX.
