James Middleton and his wife Alizée Thevenet are expecting their first child together.
James Middleton and his wife Alizee Thevenet are expecting their first child together - Instagram-JamesMiddleton
The 36-year-old - who is the younger brother of Catherine, Princess of Wales, 41 - took to Instagram to share a picture of 33-year-old French financier Alizée, complete with growing bump, and the couple's dog Mable.
He wrote: "We couldn’t be more excited … well Mable might be"
James also admitted the pair had a "very difficult start to the year" after the death of their pet pooch Ella - who passed away in January at the age of 15 following a short illness - but he can't wait to add a "precious little addition" at the end of 2023.
He wrote: "It was a very difficult start to the year after losing my beloved Ella however we will end the year with the most precious little addition to our growing family"
James and Alizée's child will be a niece or nephew to Catherine and Prince William, and a first cousin to their children Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, eight, and five-year-old Prince Louis.
Last month, James - who serves as the ambassador for the Pets as Therapy charity - admitted his relationship with his dogs "saved his life".
He told OK! Magazine: "It’s still challenging to talk about it but the role that my dogs played was fundamental in my recovery and rehabilitation. My dog Ella, in particular, 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 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.
"I think Ella knew that I was not functioning to my full capacity and she was trying to give little encouraging signs to look after myself because I had a responsibility to look after her too. I do think [the dogs] played such an important role to the point that I do think they saved my life."
Tagged in James Middleton