Fond memories of the late Queen Elizabeth II are cherished by James Middleton, Princess Kate’s brother. In an interview with Us Weekly published on Tuesday, September 24, the 37-year-old shared, “I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have spent time with her.”
He described a remarkable moment, recalling how it felt to transition from learning about the queen to being in the same room with her, doing a puzzle, calling it a “pinch yourself moment.”
James expressed admiration for the “dedication” Queen Elizabeth exhibited throughout her reign. He stated, “To have been able to share moments of time with her, I’ll forever be very grateful for that.” His acquaintance with the queen began when Kate, 42, married Prince William in 2011.
James Middleton admired Queen Elizabeth’s dedication throughout her reign, noting his acquaintance with her began when Kate married Prince William in 2011
In his memoir, Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life, James recounted a humorous experience with the queen. He described rushing down the stairs after arriving late to Kate’s birthday party, nearly colliding with Her Majesty.
“I bounded downstairs two at a time and into the room where everyone was assembled for tea,” he wrote, recalling that he entered just as Elizabeth and Prince Philip were about to leave.
Despite having rehearsed a proper greeting, James found himself flustered and inadvertently said, “I’m so sorry we’re late, Your Royal Majesty.”
He remembered hearing laughter from William, who was amused by his slip-up. “I blushed fiercely,” James admitted, noting that Elizabeth was gracious in her response.
James fondly remembered Elizabeth’s welcoming nature, having met her several times, including at his sister’s wedding. He also shared that the queen had a fondness for dogs, including his late dog, Ella, who inspired his memoir.
In one passage, he described staying at Sandringham with the royal family and mentioned that Elizabeth allowed Ella to stay in his room.
Ella made quite an impression on the queen, even escaping to the kitchens and befriending a chef. James recounted, “She said to me, ‘I hear Ella had a nice little wander round earlier,’” and instead of reprimanding him, Elizabeth smiled and remarked, “Well, dogs will be dogs,” demonstrating her understanding of pets.
Another interesting tidbit from his book reveals that James was offered a $1 million role in a movie after doing a reading at Kate and William’s wedding. He noted, “They even ventured that members of my wider family might like to take part.”
In an interview with The Times of London, James reflected on how important it was for him to read from the Bible at the royal wedding, particularly after being diagnosed with dyslexia in childhood. “I’d never seen a royal wedding.
There hadn’t been one in my lifetime. Not a big one anyway,” he explained on September 22. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity, saying, “I just felt privileged that my sister was asking me to do it, and it meant something to her. I wanted to make sure I did it.”
