Princess Kate Middleton ’s brother, James Middleton , had a memorable run-in with the late Queen Elizabeth II . “I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have spent time with her,” James, 37, told Us Weekly exclusively while promoting his book Meet Ella : The Dog Who Saved My Life , ahead of its Thursday, September 26, release. “I think spending time at school and learning about this incredible monarch and then finding yourself in the same room with her doing a puzzle is a pinch yourself moment.
” James is the younger brother of Kate, 42, who has been married to Prince William since April 2011. William, 42, is Queen Elizabeth’s grandson and first in line for the throne following his father, King Charles III . James spoke about “the dedication” that Elizabeth “put towards her role” through the years.
“To have been able to share moments of time with her, I’ll forever be very grateful for that,” he said. In the book, Middleton writes about a hilarious moment with the late monarch when running late to his sister Kate’s birthday — which was set to take place after he and sister Pippa Middleton were flying back from France. “I bounded downstairs two at a time and into the room where everyone was assembled for tea, almost running smack into Her Majesty,” he wrote.
“She and Prince Philip had got up to leave just as I blundered in with [my sister] Pippa behind me.” While he practiced his greeting, that all went out the window. “In my blind panic I blu.