The Princess of Wales' brother has opened up about his mental health struggles and the help that his beloved spaniel Ella, who passed away earlier this year, gave him.
James Middleton, 36, said that during his battle with depression, his dogs were the main reason he managed to get up in the morning, adding that they helped him through his recovery and rehabilitation.
Kate's brother, who previously described depression as "a cancer of the mind", has spoken out ahead of Goodwoof dog festival in Chichester this weekend.
Mr Middleton, who is an ambassador for the charity Pets As Therapy, said his dog Ella, who sadly died this year, helped him get up every day and forget his struggles for some time.
He told OK!: "My dog Ella [who passed away earlier this year] was my reason to get up in the morning, my reason to get dressed and go outside and go for a walk - even if it was pouring with rain.
"You go outside for 10 or 15 minutes, get that fresh air and you suddenly forget for 15 minutes what was traumatising you.
"That respite from the thing that was banging away in my mind and causing me to not function properly was unintentionally helped by Ella and the rest of my dogs."
He added: "I think Ella knew that I wasn’t functioning to my full capacity and she was trying to give little encouraging signs to get me to look after myself because I had a responsibility to look after her, along with it, too, and so I think they played such an important role to the point that I do think they've saved my life."
Writing for the Daily Mail in January 2019, Kate's brother said he felt misunderstood and "a complete failure" as he struggled with his mental health - and described how his dogs supported and saved him throughout his battle.
He recalled: "After enduring a progressive deterioration in my mental health over 12 months, I packed my dogs into my car and, telling no one where I was going, drove to a wild part of the Lake District I’ve loved since I was a child.
"There I swam in an icy Coniston Water, took solitary walks on snow-capped mountains and stayed alone in a remote cottage for a few days, eating from packets and trying to still the tumult in my mind.
"In the days before, I’d finally confronted the fact that I couldn’t cope any longer, that I wasn’t all right; that I desperately needed help. And this recognition led to a sort of calm: I knew if I accepted help there would be hope. It was a tiny spark of light in the darkness."
This weekend, Kate's brother will attend Goodwoof, which celebrates all things canine. As an ambassador of Pets As Therapy, Mr Middleton said he is excited about the event.
He said: "I think many dog owners recognise how much our dogs give to us and what's amazing about this charity is that what is even more rewarding is visiting somebody with your dog who's been assessed and has gone through that.
"Seeing other people get benefits from your own dog is the next level up of amazement in terms of how incredible your dog can be because they give love to you and they've got enough spare to still give it to others."
