James Middleton, brother of Kate Middleton, recently reflected on how his now-wife Alizee Thevenet had her first impromptu encounter with his sister, Prince William, and their children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Contrary to a fairy-tale introduction, James shared in his book, “Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life,” an unexpected situation that led to Alizee meeting his royal family members. After attending a wedding, James and Alizee decided to stay at his parents’ home in Berkshire, unaware that his sister’s family was also visiting.
“We quietly let ourselves into the house, tiptoeing to avoid waking anyone,” James recalls in an excerpt shared by the Daily Mail on September 15. “However, we were awakened early in the morning by giggling at the bedroom door—George and Charlotte had found us,” he mentioned, surprised to realize all three children were spending the weekend there. Alizee, still asleep, didn’t realize the unexpected company she was about to meet. As James distracted the children, they found Catherine and William enjoying their morning tea in the kitchen.
As James prepared to take tea to Alizee, she appeared downstairs in his shirt. Her composed demeanor during this first meeting left a lasting impression. James admired her confidence as she greeted everyone, mingling comfortably despite the unusual circumstances. “‘Hello,’ she said, shaking hands with ease, and soon we were all conversing with the children peppering us with questions,” he wrote. James told Charlotte and George about his relationship with Alizee, leading to a seamless and joyful interaction as if she’d always been part of the family.
That same day, James’ parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, returned home. As they parted ways the following day, Kate expressed her approval of Alizee. “Catherine gave me a special hug and whispered, ‘She’s just great,’” he noted. His mother’s warm smile mirrored this sentiment. For James, everything aligned perfectly—Alizee was ideal for him, and his family loved her.
James and Alizee married in 2021 and had their first child last October. This reminiscence coincided with their recent wedding anniversary. On September 11, James posted on Instagram, “Je t’aime, mon coeur. Happy anniversary, Alizee. Our third as husband and wife, our second without Ella, but our first as parents.”