Prince William Hates Playing Card Games With the Middletons for the Funniest Reason

"William, for all the competitive rigour of his military training, was happy to be a loser at cards."

Last week, Kate Middleton shared an update on her cancer diagnosis via a personal, emotional video on her and Prince William's shared social media accounts. The video reflects Kate's newfound appreciation for life following the completion of her preventative chemotherapy treatment. Her gratitude is best expressed through all the little vignettes in the flick showing the princess enjoying family time, such as a clip of Kate, her parents (Carole and Michael Middleton), William, and their kids (Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis) playing a card game at the dining table. Set in front of a beautiful backdrop full of natural light, the activity looks like a friendly, fun, and relaxing pastime. However, to William, the game was anything but.

According to the princess's brother, James Middleton, William despises playing games with the Middletons. In his new memoir, Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life, James wrote that the heir would take his spaniel Ella for long walks to get out of the Middleton family's "competitive" games.

"I know, too, that Ella gave him a good excuse to escape the fiercely competitive nature of the Middleton family, which emerged every time we played our favourite fast-paced card game, Racing Demon," he wrote.

James continued, "William would flinch at our ruthless determination to win at all costs. He’d be delighted to be the first out, and when no longer compelled to take part, he’d slink off to cuddle Ella. Better still, he’d absent himself from the game entirely."

James added William would ask, "James, does Ella need a walk?" before they had the chance to start dealing the cards.

"My sisters and I would exchange a knowing glance: William, for all the competitive rigour of his military training, was happy to be a loser at cards."

However, Ella wasn't just William's scapegoat. James wrote that the royal was "so genuinely fond of Ella" and "was smitten" from the moment he met her as a puppy. James posits that William took such a liking to Ella because he once had a black Labrador, Widgeon, as a young boy.

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