When faced with a terrible loss, you should always be able to lean on your family. Thankfully, James Middleton was able to lean on his two sisters — Pippa and the Princess of Wales — when he recently faced a devastating loss.
Last week, James lost his beloved dog, Ella, and his older sisters rushed to his side to offer support.
In the Sunday Times, James shared his heartbreak over the death of his dog Ella. His 15-year-old cocker spaniel had a big impact on his life, with James attributing her to saving his life.
As Ella’s health declined, the Princess of Wales was among those who joined James in saying “their goodbyes” before Ella died.
Ella was with James for 15 years, and he has credited her with 'saving his life.'
“When I first met her, she was four weeks old and I was 20,” James shared with the news outlet. “We grew up together, she looked out for me and I looked out for her.”
James continued, adding that Ella was more than just a dog to him. “Ella helped me to learn, especially during my days of depression, that talking and sharing can be a powerful, healing thing,” he shared.
“That’s why I felt I needed to let people know and, with tears in my eyes, I shared the news about her on Instagram.”
Having to say goodbye to Ella was really hard for him.
“Burying her; that was the worst. It took me four hours because I knew once I had finished digging, that would be the final farewell,” James added. “All the family came to say their goodbyes.”
Among those who supported him and said goodbye included his sisters, Kate and Pippa, who have special connections to Ella too.
“I can’t speak for them but I believe she influenced their lives too,” James wrote. “Lupo, Catherine and William’s dog, is one of Ella’s puppies. My sister Pippa and her husband have a pup from Ella, as do other family members.”
Everyone knew how important Ella was to James and how hard her loss would hit him.
“Everybody knew how much she meant to me and there was a day they feared the most: the day Ella was no longer in my life,” James shared. “She meant something to all of them too.”
He also noted that having the support of his sisters has meant a lot to him. He explained that Kate and Pippa have “always been there during difficult times.”
'They were at my side during the hardest of times as well. For that, I am forever grateful.,' he shared.
He’s also thankful for all the support he’s received from everyone in his life.
“Having shared my story, the one thing I think we can all agree on, is that the worst thing about having a dog is that they are only with us for part of our life,” he wrote. “They can never be there for the whole of it.”
