James Middleton Says Group Therapy Was "Easier" for Sisters Kate and Pippa After Revealing Parents Initially Blamed Themselves for His Depression

The Princess of Wales's brother shared insights on family therapy in his new memoir.

Carole, James and Pippa Middleton walking into Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding wearing dress clothes
(Image credit: Getty Images)

This story discusses depression and suicide. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.

The Princess of Wales's brother, James Middleton, has revealed plenty of candid details about his family life and how they helped him battle depression in his new memoir, Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life. But in a new interview with Hello! magazine, the royal sibling revealed his sisters Kate and Pippa Middleton had an "easier" time in family therapy than their parents.

James, whose book was released on Thursday, Sept. 26, told the media outlet that the Middleton family attended therapy sessions to get a better idea of what he was going through.

"It gives somebody the opportunity to ask questions that I don't necessarily know the answer to, or might be too emotional to give the answer to, or not have the confidence to say it," he shared, adding, "It's like having a translator."

The James & Ella dog food founder credits his late dog, Ella, with stopping him from a suicide attempt during the height of his depression. He told Hello! that his parents initially struggled with blaming themselves for his condition.

"It was easier for my sisters, because initially my parents saw it as a challenge for them—where had they gone wrong?" James told the magazine.

He went on to share, "that's why it was so important to have somebody else in the room to explain: 'No, this isn't you that's done this to your son. This is a combination of multiple things. It stems back to childhood but there's not a single trigger point.'"

James credited sisters Kate and Pippa for being able to bridge the gap between James and his parents.

"Once I started to understand a bit myself, and then for my sisters to understand it, who could then also speak to my parents…Now, it's something that can be discussed at the dinner table," the entrepreneur shared.

James, Carole and Pippa Middleton and Alizee Thevenet cheering at a Wimbledon match

James, pictured at a Wimbledon match with his wife, Alizée Thevenet, and sister Pippa (right) and Mom Carole (second from right), said his family now speaks about mental health openly.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

In his book, James wrote of how he knew he was "privileged" and had "a loving and close-knit family." However, his depressive feelings didn't allow James to turn to the princess and the rest of his family at first.

"I do not answer their phone calls. Emails remain ignored. Invitations to visit go unheeded. I hide behind a double-locked door, unreachable," he wrote, adding, "My sisters gently cajole me out of the flat now and again."

However, James penned that once he opened up about his depression, the Prince and Princess of Wales—who have long worked with mental health charities— brought "valuable knowledge and understanding" of his depression.

James—who is married to Alizée Thevenet and welcomed a baby boy, Inigo, with his wife in 2023—said therapy has allowed the Middletons to discuss mental health more freely.

"It's helped us as a family— not just me individually, but as a unit—to be more open," he said.

Kristin Contino
Senior Royal and Celebrity Editor

Kristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor. She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means.

Prior to working at Marie Claire, she wrote about celebrity and royal fashion at Page Six Style and covered royalty from around the world as chief reporter at Royal Central. Kristin has provided expert commentary for outlets including the BBC, Sky News, US Weekly, the Today Show and many others.

Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.” She's passionate about travel, history, horses, and learning everything she can about her favorite city in the world, London.

Read more
Pippa and Kate Middleton smile and both have long brown hair as they attend Wimbledon in 2012
Kate Middleton and Her Siblings Reunited Over the Holidays so Their Children Could "Spend Time Together"
Kate Middleton has long brown hair and turns around at Wimbledon in 2024, where she is wearing a purple dress
Kate Middleton "Leaned on" Two Family Members "Very Hard" During Her "Darkest Days," Says Royal Expert
Carole Middleton wearing a pale blue floral dress and matching headband with a flower holding hands with Prince William, who is wearing a suit and top hat while standing in grass at Royal Ascot
How Prince William Has Found a "Traditional Family" in the Middletons: "When Things Go Wrong, They Pull Together"
A 1980s photo of Princess Diana wearing a long green skirt and white sweater giving Prince William a piggyback in grass next to Prince Charles, who is wearing khakis and a blue shirt holding Prince Harry
Prince William Made a Heartbreaking Admission About His Childhood to Princess Kate After She Explained a Very Normal Activity
Kate Middleton wears a teal dress and has long brunette hair and bangs, Prince William wears a tuxedo
Kate Middleton and Prince William "Worried" About Raising Kids in the Royal Family, Says Former Aide
Prince William wearing a flat cap and green coat with a hood
Prince William's Former Aide Admits This Moment Was "The Lowest I've Ever Seen Him"
Latest in Royals
Princess Madeleine of Sweden wearing a tiara featuring emeralds
Why Princess Madeleine of Sweden Can't Use Her Royal Title to Promote Her New Skincare Line
Queen Camilla has blonde hair and is wearing a dark green shirt dress
Why Queen Camilla Has Been Issued a "Strict" Warning Regarding Her Meeting With the Pope
Meghan Markle wears blue denim jeans
Meghan Markle Confirms Skinny Jeans Are Back by Finally Revealing Her Favorite Frame Denim
Carole Middleton has blonde hair and laughs while shopping with daughter Kate Middleton
How Carole Middleton Might Step Up to Support Princess Kate Following Previous Controversies
Meghan Markle wears a white shirt and blue jeans while she carries daughter Princess Lilibet and hugs son Prince Archie
New Prince Archie Photo Proves He Takes After Dad Prince Harry in Two Very Important Ways
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2023 at Merkur Spiel-Arena on September 16, 2023 in Duesseldorf, Germany.
Meghan Markle Shared a Rare Video Filmed by Prince Harry on Instagram
Latest in News
Bella Hadid walks into a studio wearing an oversize leather jacket with a pair of capri leggings and ballet sneakers
The Ballet Sneaker Trend Is Bella Hadid's Undisputed It-Shoe of 2025
Keke Palmer in a brown cutout dress and long copper hair
Keke Palmer Returns to the Dark Side With Deep Espresso Hair
Jonathan Davino in a blue shirt and gray blazer and Sydney Sweeney in a black and white patterned dress at the InStyle and Kate Spade dinner in October 2018
Sydney Sweeney Deletes Instagram of Fiancé Jonathan Davino, Further Fueling Breakup Rumors
Jennifer Lawrence
The Jennifer Lawrence-Approved Adidas Sneakers Everyone's Talking About Are Secretly On Sale at Nordstrom
Selena Gomez visits the SiriusXM Studios on March 25, 2025 in New York City wearing a snakeskin blazer and jeans.
Selena Gomez Proves Skinny Jeans Are Cool Again With Khaite's $680 Benny Belt
Meghan Markle in a beige shirt on stage at SXSW in March 2024
Meghan Markle and Gwyneth Paltrow Open Up About Their "Rift" Over Pie