Princess Kate’s brother James Middleton reveals he felt like he was ‘just about surviving’ as he shares rare pics of son
PRINCESS Kate’s brother James Middleton has opened up in a candid Instagram post about how he used to struggle around this time of year.
The businessman, 37, told his followers how he used to feel as though he was “only just about surviving” with the pressures of the New Year.
James, who has been open with his mental health struggles, also shared some rare photos of his adorable son Inigo, who he shares with his French financial analyst wife Alizee Thevenet.
Kate’s younger brother shared: “A different type of January blues…
“The January blues used to hit me hard…and to some extent it still does – the lingering aftermath of the festive season and long dark nights mixed in with overly ambitious New Year’s resolutions mean I feel as if I’m only just about surviving and it’s only the start of the year…
“But a few years ago I set myself a new mantra which was inspired by my dogs. Don’t spend every moment thinking of the one to come, or ones in the past.
“The past is imperfect, the future will be too – take each day as a new day, you can be excited about the future…the past won’t mind!”
He revealed his young family have started their 2025 with a skiing trip in the mountains, along with two of their dogs.
James didn’t specify the exact location, but the beautiful snaps showed little Inigo, one, bundled up in a blue ski suit alongside a matching pair of sunglasses.
Adorably, the young tot posed on miniature skis.
Another snap showed Alizee – who James married in 2021 – feeding Inigo as he sat in his buggy.
Speaking of Inigo’s birth in September 2023, father-of-one James wrote: “He has been in our lives for just a few weeks but they have been the most special of my life getting to know our beautiful baby boy.
“No matter how prepared I thought I was…I was not prepared for the overwhelming emotion of meeting Inigo for the first time and the love for my darling Alizée as we became three.”
That year, James praised the Prince and Princess of Wales for how they have helped with his mental health struggles after going through depression.
On Good Morning Britain, TV host Kate Garraway said to James: “You must be very proud of them actually, or very proud of her she is doing a storming job after an extraordinary year or two, but you must be very proud.”
Entrepreneur James shared: “She is my sister and I see her… I am extremely proud and I am very, I am always taken back by how much she does and that does continue to sit in the forefront of my mind.
“But actually to be honest she is my sister so I know all of her quirks and everything and actually to see her blossoming in that role I think is really… I am very proud of her.”
James is the youngest of the three siblings, after his eldest sister, Kate, who turned 43 yesterday, and Pippa, 41, and the family grew up in Berkshire with parents Carole and Michael Middleton.
Royal support
TV host Kate also brought up the work the royals have down on the topic of mental health.
She said to James: “Your sister, future Queen, and William as well, Prince of Wales, have all campaigned a lot on mental health issues.
“So you think in a way that is partly because they have seen what you have been through and your passion for it too?”
James answered: “I think what is fantastic is that they’re in a position where they are talking about their own mental health and I think it is something that is broad.
“It is a challenge and I remember early on in my sort of… to say the words out loud that I was feeling depressed or I thought I had depression was impossible.
Who is James Middleton and what does he do for a living?
JAMES Middleton has lived a life in the spotlight thanks to his sister Kate being married to Prince William.
But despite his royal connections, he has forged an incredible career by himself.
Businessman James is the proud owner of novelty marshmallow company Boomf.
He also runs the Cake Kit Company, which delivers bespoke sweet treats and baking kits for special occasions.
Impressively, his award-winning business has created cakes for fashion giants Jigsaw and Ralph Lauren.
In addition to this, he also runs Ella & Co, which provides “nutritionally-rich, ethical, and delicious freeze-dried raw dog food” available in the UK is our first, small step towards a happy dog revolution.”
Jame married French financial analyst Alizée Thevenet on September 11, 2021, and their son Inigo arrived in 2023.
“But actually through some of the work they have been doing over time, it gave me the confidence and the help to speak out and actually… so I have more to thank for them and the focus they put towards it.
“As I said earlier we all suffer from mental health and I think to be able to speak out about it in that way, I felt I had a responsibility to speak out.
“It was part of my journey to get to where I am now where I am in control of it, it hasn’t gone, I don’t expect it to but I am now in control of it.”
After launching Boomf, his former greeting card firm, James now runs Ella & Co, a mail-order dog food company that offers freeze-dried, raw, organic dog food.
James and Alizee have numerous adorable dogs, and the self-confessed dog-mad businessman recently made a TV documentary discussing how his dogs have helped cure his depression.
It was previously revealed that James and Alizée had bought up the Middleton’s fourth property in the village of Bucklebury, Berkshire, for £1.45 million.
The property is a stunning four-bedroom Grade II listed period farmhouse with beams and leaded windows on the Bucklebury fringes.
Parents Carole and Michael live in a £4.7million manor house in the same village, and sister Pippa recently bought Bucklebury Farm Park, a petting zoo which is a favourite of Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Help for mental health
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support.
The following are free to contact and confidential:
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123, jo@samartiands.org.uk
- CALM (the leading movement against suicide in men) www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Papyrus (prevention of young suicide) www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Shout (for support of all mental health) www.giveusashout.org/get-help/, text 85258 to start a conversation
Mind, www.mind.org, provide information about types of mental health problems and where to get help for them. Email info@mind.org.uk or call the infoline on 0300 123 3393 (UK landline calls are charged at local rates, and charges from mobile phones will vary).
YoungMinds run a free, confidential parents helpline on 0808 802 5544 for parents or carers worried about how a child or young person is feeling or behaving. The website has a chat option too.
Rethink Mental Illness, www.rethink.org, gives advice and information service offers practical advice on a wide range of topics such as The Mental Health Act, social care, welfare benefits, and carers rights. Use its website or call 0300 5000 927 (calls are charged at your local rate).
Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk, is the a mental health initiative spearheaded by The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales.