She’s endured the most difficult 18 months of her life following a worrying cancer diagnosis on the back of being dragged into a toxic feud with her brother-in-law and his wife. But last week, royal fans got an insight into another emotionally charged family situation faced by Kate Middleton after her brother, James Middleton, opened up about how his sisters had helped him get through very dark times.
James, 38, heaped praise on older sister Kate, 43, in a new interview, lauding her emotional intelligence and supportive nature as he reflected on some of his more difficult moments. And now, sources tell Closer how her sibling’s turmoil has impacted Kate – particularly after James considered taking his own life in 2017.
An insider reveals, ‘Kate has always had an exceptionally close relationship with James, so of course she was very upset and stressed that he was struggling. She and William have been with him every step of the way, offering support, guidance and company. James is her baby brother at the end of the day, so it goes without saying that she was frightened and alarmed to hear what he was going through.’
In a rare interview, James revealed just how vital having his sisters by his side was when he was struggling through his lowest ebb. He said, ‘I’m incredibly fortunate to have my two sisters, not just as siblings, but as friends. They’ve seen me at my best and at my lowest, and they’ve always been there when I’ve needed them.’
After the mental health crisis in 2017 that left him with thoughts of ending his life, James credited Kate and Pippa, 41, for helping him through. Kate reportedly dropped everything to attend family therapy sessions with James as he underwent nearly a year of cognitive behavioural therapy.
A source tells Closer, ‘James leant on his sister a lot. She’s his rock, and she makes a point to check in on him most days. They talk and text all the time, sometimes into the night, and James knows that if he ever needs anything from Kate at all then she’d drop whatever she’s doing and be there to help. And that counts for so much.’
James also recently revealed that his sisters taught him how to better handle his mental health struggles. ‘They’ve always been emotionally open, expressive, and in tune with the people around them, and I think being surrounded by that kind of emotional intelligence rubbed off on me, even if I didn’t fully realise it at the time. Having strong women around me, who led with compassion and honesty, definitely helped me learn that vulnerability wasn’t weakness, it was strength,’ he continued.
James – who married financial analyst Alizée Thevenet in 2021 and welcomed son Inigo Gabriel two years later – has been open in the past about growing up with dyslexia, ADD, anxiety and clinical depression. He previously admitted that his wonderful sisters, while they may have been incredibly supportive, also served as an intimidating yardstick to measure himself against his entire adolescence. ‘I think it was challenging for my parents, because they saw my sisters flourish and go through that schooling system without any hiccups or any real challenges.’
Kate – who shares Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven, with her husband, Prince William, 42 – has endured her own hardships over the past few years. She revealed her cancer diagnosis to the world in March 2024 and completed her treatment for it in September of that year, all while supporting her father-in-law King Charles, 76, during his own battle with the disease.
Her brother-in-law, Prince Harry, 40, and his wife Meghan Markle, 43 – who stepped back from their royal duties in January 2020 and moved to California, where they’re now raising Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four – have dropped multiple bombshells about Kate and Wills since leaving royal life behind.
A source tells Closer, ‘It speaks volumes for Kate’s compassion and selflessness that she has been able to be so supportive to her brother despite everything that was going on in her own life, but that’s just her nature. She’ll always do everything in her power to keep her family together. That said, there’s no question that this was agonising for her to contend with during the most challenging of times, and she’s just so relieved that James managed to pull through to a point where he was able to find inner peace and purpose.’
While James has Kate as his support system, our insider says she also relies on him to get her through the difficult times.
‘The Middletons are an exceptionally tight knit family unit, who always support each other through thick and thin – that will never change. Kate is so proud of James for speaking up and helping others who may be struggling. He took a lot of inspiration from his sister, and she’s been an instrumental factor in his recovery, so the overwhelming sense of gratitude and pride is mutual.’