Kate Middleton’s brother, James Middleton, has recently opened up about an infamous snapshot of him in a dress at a fancy-dress soiree.
Over the years, James has been candid about his mental health battles and has now expressed regret for being captured “cross-dressing” in his youth.
A decade ago, images surfaced of then 26 year old James at parties, with one notable photo displaying him clad in a chic polka dot dress. However, in a reflective piece for the Telegraph, he admits that he can no longer dwell on the past or ponder over alternative actions.
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His words were clear: “There are certain things I’ve learnt, like not to wear drag to a Hallowe’en party because you’ll find yourself in the papers as a ‘cross-dressing brother’. But I can’t look back thinking, ‘How would I have done things differently’.”
He also revealed how the tranquillity of rural life contributes positively to mental health, stating: “The peace of the countryside helps maintain our mental wellbeing; it was part of our reason for moving out of London after 11 years. It sounds like a joke, but we try to live like our dogs. They’re not worrying about tomorrow or yesterday.”
Now 37, the Duchess of Cambridge’s younger sibling resides in the country with his partner and their six canines. James recently released an autobiography where he speaks openly about his mental health struggles, reports the Mirror.
Earlier in his commentary for the Telegraph, he disclosed how being thrust into the limelight due to Kate’s relationship with Prince William made him “famous by default”.
In a recent interview with the Mirror, James opened up about his upcoming memoir, Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life. The book is a candid account of his struggles with mental health, including suicidal thoughts, and how his loyal cocker spaniel Ella played a crucial role in his recovery.
James credits his cocker spaniel Ella, as well as the unwavering support of his family, particularly his sister, for helping him through his darkest moments. He first confided in his family about his struggles in 2017, before speaking publicly about them in 2019.
James said: “When I first publicly spoke about my depression, they were launching their Heads Together charity and that was great for me to learn and understand and have a platform. As I’ve said, I didn’t believe I was allowed to have mental health or depression and that work was a good catalyst for me to want to speak out because I can’t ever avoid or hide away from who my sister is, I will always be her brother.
“But it made me feel confident enough and supportive enough in what they were speaking about in what I felt.”
James recounts in his book the invaluable backing he received from his relatives amidst his battles with mental health and remarks it’s been a consistently supportive dynamic through their latest challenges.
Elaborating on his family’s bond, he shared: “I think as a family, we are a close family and through the experiences of my mental health and challenges we’ve faced over the years, we’ve learned to be a support for each other and that comes in different shapes and forms. I think we are very much in that supportive place for each other, which I recognise we are really lucky to have as not all families have it.”