Princess Kate's Brother James Pens Emotional Message to Sister After Leaked Hiking Footage Drama
A leaked video wasn't the only thing to come out of Kate's Three Peaks Challenge—her brother had a few words too.
Princess Kate took on the National Three Peaks Challenge to raise awareness about cancer, a cause that is deeply personal to her after her own diagnosis in 2024. While it was initially believed that she completed the trek alone, her brother James Middleton was also seen accompanying her in a leaked viral video. He broke his silence for the first time since then, penning an emotional message dedicated to her sister.
In a new Instagram post, James shared a sweet photo of him and Kate hugging after completing the challenge. He also wrote a heartfelt message that read, “I’m so incredibly proud of my darling sister. Two years ago, I told you we’d climb this mountain together. We talked about climbing mountains while you were in hospital, and about the incredible healing power that nature can have for both the body and the mind.”
James went on to reveal that he did join her for the hike and said, “So it was such an honor to join you for your Three Peaks Challenge for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.” He also said it had been inspiring to see how far Kate has come, praising her strength, resilience and determination. Describing her as an amazing mother, wife, daughter, and sister, he ended the message by telling her to "keep being exactly who you are."
His post quietly confirmed what many had only suspected after his leaked footage on the trail. Until the video emerged, Kate's Three Peaks Challenge had largely been presented as a deeply personal feat that she undertook solo. The clip, however, revealed that her brother had been beside her during at least part of the final descent, offering support as they made their way down Snowdon together.
That detail became part of a much bigger conversation. Critics argued that James's involvement was never the issue—instead, they questioned why Kensington Palace's carefully curated narrative appeared to leave it out. Shortly afterward, Phillip Tebajjwa (the owner of the video who had trekked the mountain too) posted an apology video, saying he had handed the footage over to the Palace. The discussion only intensified after the Palace officially recorded the Three Peaks Challenge in the Court Circular as a royal engagement, blurring the line between what had initially been presented as a personal milestone and what later became part of Kate's official royal work.
Kate later shared new images from the challenge, including the moment Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Carole Middleton, Michael Middleton, and James welcomed her at the finish line. While the photographs celebrated the achievement as a family milestone, James's own message offered a more personal glimpse into the support he had provided throughout the journey.
