James Middleton: 'We Speak More Openly Now About Mental Health as a Family' (Exclusive)

"We're a close family, but it's brought us together," the younger brother of Kate Middleton tells PEOPLE ahead of the release of his new memoir, "Meet Ella," out Sept. 24

James Middleton, the younger brother of Princess Kate, may be linked to one of the world’s most famous families, but on a rainy summer afternoon in Bucklebury, Berkshire, his attention is focused on a different brood: his six lively dogs.

These pups hold a special place in his heart, all descendants of his first two beloved pets — the Middleton family dog, Tilly, and his cherished cocker spaniel, Ella, who died in 2023. Ella’s legacy lives on in Middleton’s emotional and candid new memoir, Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life, out in the U.S. on Sept. 24. (Read PEOPLE's exclusive excerpt here.)

In it Middleton, 37, shares how Ella helped him through his darkest struggles with depression, including a 2017 night when he almost succumbed to his suicidal thoughts. Ella was by his side through many pivotal life moments, from his sister’s royal wedding to Prince William in 2011 and Christmases with the late Queen Elizabeth, to even playing matchmaker, leading him to his wife, Alizee Thevenet, 35, a French financial technology professional. The couple’s son, Inigo, born just months after Ella's death, turns one in October.

“It took me on a journey,” Middleton tells PEOPLE of writing his book in this week's issue of PEOPLE. “I hope that my son is able to learn about his own mental health way before I did so that he doesn't have to go through some of the very painful moments that I went through.”

Diagnosed with clinical depression, ADD and dyslexia, Middleton now pours his energy into James & Ella, his company dedicated to producing ethical dog food and advocating for the supportive role dogs play in challenging times. Middleton’s own struggles are profound, and during a harrowing night in November 2017 when he considered jumping off the roof of his London apartment building, Ella was his beacon of hope, pulling him back from the brink.

His parents, Carole and Michael, and sisters, Kate, 42, and Pippa Middleton, 41, were soon by his side.

“We speak more openly now about our own mental health as a family. That is a great thing,” he says.

Reflecting on his family’s reaction to his book’s revelations, he shares, “The embrace of a hug from a family member means more than words. We're a close family, but it's brought us together. I know they're proud of me for telling my story.”

Related: James Middleton Reveals Accidental Way Kate Middleton and Prince William Met His Future Wife

Middleton first entered the global spotlight during Kate and William’s 2011 royal wedding, when, like his sister Pippa, he was thrust into the public eye. Despite his dyslexia, he honored their request to read at the Westminster Abbey ceremony. To prepare, he worked with voice coach Anthony Gordon Lennox ahead of the big day (with Ella by his side).

“I became very passionate about doing it and loved a lot of the excursions that Ella, myself and Anthony went on to learn how to read it,” he recalls.

Middleton calls the wedding, which was watched by tens of millions around the world, an “out of body experience."

“It was as if it was a royal wedding that I wasn't at," he says. "It just felt like a family wedding.”

Although his brother-in-law is the future king, William is fully integrated into the Middleton family.

“William has been fantastic in offering advice and support and giving his two cents on the best approach to things,” he says.

Of his sister Kate, he adds, “My love and respect for my sister is huge. I support her and everything that she's doing. I recognize that there's interest in my life because of who she is, and it took time to adjust. But I'm proud of who I am. It just so happens that my sister is who she is.”

The Princess of Wales has been confronting her own battle with an undisclosed form of cancer. On Sept. 9 she shared that she has completed chemotherapy and is taking “each day as it comes.” When she announced her diagnosis in March, Middleton publicly showed his support on Instagram, writing, "Over the years, we have climbed many mountains together. As a family, we will climb this one with you too."

Reflecting on the situation in a park near their childhood home, he says, “There are huge numbers of people who go through [cancer]. It doesn't matter who you are, what your upbringing is. Life throws you obstacles."

He adds, “We are a close family. It is always important to have support around you and not do things alone. Sharing it does help bring people together. My love and support for my family is more than just an Instagram post.”

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

For Middleton, his steadfast "rock" is his wife, Alizee, whom he met by chance in a Chelsea bar, thanks to Ella wandering over to her table. The couple tied the knot in an intimate ceremony attended by their closest friends and family in the South of France in 2021. Fatherhood followed soon after Ella’s death. He is “absolutely certain” Ella (who is the mother of Kate and Prince William’s first dog Lupo) sensed Alizee was pregnant. “And that, in terms of timing, was the time to slip off,” Middleton tells PEOPLE.

“One last gift that Ella gave me was leaving at a time when I was ready to let her go in a way," he adds. "If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be here today. I'm so thankful for that.”

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.