James Middleton with his dogs Inka, Luna, Ella and Mabel in 2020.Photo: Kirsty O’Connor/Getty Images
James Middletonis rebranding his business to honor the bond with his beloved dog whodiedearlier this year.
On Tuesday,Kate Middleton’s younger brother opened up about changing the name of his natural pet food company from Ella & Co to James & Ella. James, 36, launched the business in 2020 and named it after his beloved cocker spaniel, who hecredited as his strengthwhile struggling with depression.
“James & Ella: a new chapter 📖,” he wrote onInstagram. “Well, since Ella passed away at the beginning of the year, I’ve spent a long time reflecting on how much she transformed my life. It was a start of a new chapter without her, but I wanted to recognise the incredible bond we had, and to signify the symbiotic relationship between humans and dogs. Through James & Ella, I’ll be carrying on the legacy of the most incredible dog I ever had the pleasure of caring for, as she cared for me, with lots of exciting news to share later this year…”
On June 8, James said it officially was “six months without Ella” and shared a doodle of them together onsocial media. In January, Princess Kate’s brother announced that his dear dog died at age 15 following a brief illness.
“It is with great sadness that I announce my dear Ella has passed away,” he wrote on his personalInstagrampage. “For 15 years Ella has been at my side, from my darkest days to my happiest. I’m going to miss her terribly.”
“I’m just about holding it together to write this, and despite the fact I knew this day was coming, it doesn’t make it any easier,” he said. “Goodnight my darling Ella,[my wife] Alizeeand the dogs will take good care of me.”
Ella was the first dog James owned in adulthood, and he has been vocal about how she was the light during his darkest days of depression.
The entrepreneur wrote on the James & Ellawebsitethat he created the company “as a way of giving back to my dogs that have done so much for me.” James and his wife,Alizee(who hemet through Ella!), have six other dogs — Zulu, Inka, Luna, Mabel, Nala and Isla.
Alizee Thevenet and James Middleton attend an event in July 2022.David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty
David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty
In another family tie, Ella was the mother ofLupo, the black cocker spaniel that Princess Kate andPrince Williamhad for nine years until the dog’s death in November 2020.
PEOPLEpreviously confirmedthat the Prince and Princess of Wales also got their next dog from James. Another black cocker spaniel — namedOrla, meaning “golden princess” in Celtic — later joinedPrincess Charlottein birthday portraits when the royalturned 7 last yearand8 in May.
This year is one of change for James and Alizee, who tied the knot in September 2021. Last month, they shared thehappy newsthat Alizee is pregnant with their first child.
Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
James Middleton announced his wife Alizee Thevenet is pregnant on July 5.James Middleton/ Instagram
James Middleton/ Instagram
The James & Ella founder also showed another view of the bump with two of their dogs on his professionalsocial media page.
“We have a new member of the pack coming soon, we couldn’t be more excited,” the caption read.
source: people.com
