‘Ruthless’ Middleton tradition that made William ‘flinch’

by Mark Ludlow
The Prince of Wales tried to avoid competitive family card games with the Middletons, the Princess’s brother has said.
The competition was so fierce between siblings the Princess of Wales, Pippa and James that the Prince would sometimes offer to walk the brother’s dog, Ella, to steer clear of the games completely.
In an extract from his book, Meet Ella, published in the Daily Mail, James Middleton said the family’s favourite card game was Racing Demon, which is fast-paced and in which nobody takes official turns.
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“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,” Middleton wrote in the book.
“Better still, he’d absent himself from the game entirely. ‘James, does Ella need a walk?’ he’d ask before we’d even started 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.”
In his book, Middleton outlines his mental health battles since university, which have been eased by his love of dogs, especially his cherished cocker spaniel, Ella.
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He said his love for Ella, and his fear about who would look after her if he wasn’t around, stopped him from taking his own life.
Middleton was diagnosed as an adult with Attention Deficit Disorder, which he found a great relief, helping explain his struggles at school and university.
In his book, he also revealed Elizabeth II, a dog lover herself, was also a fan of Ella and would grant her special privileges when they stayed at Sandringham.
“Her Majesty was always concerned about their wellbeing, and knowing the special place Ella held in my heart, allowed her special privileges,” he wrote.
“‘Did you get my message, James?’ she asked me the first time I visited. ‘Ella is welcome to stay in your room’.”
He said Ella once escaped from his room and was later found in the kitchen with the royal chef rubbing the dog’s belly.
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Middleton had hoped the late Queen would not find out about his dog’s adventure into the Sandringham kitchens.
“But nothing escaped her,” he wrote.
“She said to me, ‘I hear Ella had a nice little wander round earlier.’ I apologised profusely, expecting a gentle telling-off.
“Instead, with the understanding that comes from long association with dogs, she gave me a conspiratorial smile and said, ‘Well, dogs will be dogs.'”
© Telegraph Media Group Limited 2024
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