James Middleton Details "Unconditional" Support His Family Offered Princess Kate During Cancer Treatment
"That's the simplest way of really demonstrating love."


Kate Middleton returned to her duties as a senior member of the Royal Family in early 2025, after undergoing cancer treatment throughout 2024. Her brother, James Middleton, has opened up about his sister's diagnosis in a new interview, and revealed how the entire family supported the Princess of Wales during a difficult time.
Speaking with The London Times, James explained, "What I think is that, as a family, you learn to see and process and understand things." He continued, "For her and her family, it was a challenging time, and I know for us and our bigger family, it was a challenging time, but I think it's about communication and it's about offering support and help where you can."
The author of Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life shared the importance of helping people "on their terms," not on your own. "Being there for someone is such an important part," he explained.
Prince William and Kate Middleton at a VE Day anniversary concert in 2025.
Describing the support for his sister as "unconditional," James noted, "I'm not doing it for something in return. I'm doing it because I love you." He continued, "And that's the simplest way of really demonstrating love. You can do it in all these various fancy ways, but actually, you know, it is just generally being there."
James Middleton, wife Alizee Thevenet, and sister Pippa Middleton in December 2024.
In Sept. 2024, James gave a brief update on his sister Kate's health during an appearance on the TODAY show. "She's doing okay," he explained. "It's not for me to share on her behalf, you know, how everything's going. But she's getting all the right support and focus that she needs."
The author has also spoken about how proud he is of Kate and the public role she's taken on as a member of the Royal Family. "Catherine is very much on a public stage and I'm in awe of a lot of the things she does," James told Us Weekly in Oct. 2024. "I think the thing I'm most proud of is that she's still the same person that I grew up with."
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

Amy Mackelden is the weekend editor at Marie Claire, where she covers celebrity and royal family news. She was the weekend editor at Harper’s BAZAAR for three years, where she covered breaking celebrity and entertainment news, royal stories, fashion, beauty, and politics. Prior to that, she spent a year as the joint weekend editor for Marie Claire, ELLE, and Harper's BAZAAR, and two years as an entertainment writer at Bustle. Her additional bylines include Cosmopolitan, People, The Independent, HelloGiggles, Biography, Shondaland, Best Products, New Statesman, Heat, and The Guardian. Her work has been syndicated by publications including Town & Country, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Delish, Oprah Daily, Country Living, and Women's Health. Her celebrity interviews include Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Chastain, the cast of Selling Sunset, Emma Thompson, Jessica Alba, and Penn Badgley. In 2015, she delivered an academic paper at Kimposium, the world's first Kardashian conference.
-
Put 200 Beauty Execs in a Room, and You'll Get Too Many Makeup Recs to Count
Get an inside peek at Marie Claire's inaugural makeup awards breakfast.
-
Taylor Swift Included Adorable Note With Homemade Pop-Tarts
She's quickly gaining a reputation as an incredible baker.
-
Prince William and Kate Middleton Gave Prince George an Important Kingship Lesson
The 11-year-old took a big step toward understanding his future duties.
-
Prince William and Kate Middleton Just Gave Prince George What Could be His "Only Opportunity" for Important Kingship Lesson
The 11-year-old took a big step toward understanding his future duties.
-
Prince William and Kate Middleton Share a Rare Romantic Moment in Surprise Video From Anniversary Trip
Princess Kate shared her "sanctuary" in a deeply personal new film.
-
Royal Expert Says Princess Diana Would Be "Proud" of Prince Harry's Candid BBC Interview
"She liked to say exactly what she thought and then deal with the consequences afterwards."
-
A Surprising Royal Is Attending Pope Leo XIV's Inauguration Later This Month
Buckingham Palace shared the unexpected news in a statement.
-
Princess Kate Has Now Received the Same Special Honor as Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte
Kensington Palace announced the beautiful tribute on May 9.
-
Kate Middleton Subtly Honors Holocaust Victims with Her Jewelry at VE Day Concert
The Princess of Wales nailed symbolic dressing, as usual.
-
Kate Middleton and Prince William Will Make a Surprise Appearance With King Charles and Queen Camilla
The palace made a last-minute addition to the guest list for one special event.
-
Kate Middleton Brings Back a Diana-Coded Dotted Dress for VE Day Service
The Princess of Wales channeled her late mother-in-law.