James Middleton strikes deal with outlet close to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

So far, the book, which is being released on September 26, has been serialised in The Mail.

However, the next excerpt of Meet Ella by James Middleton is being serialised in People Magazine, an outlet known to have close ties to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Writing on Instagram, People issued the following statement: "James Middleton opens up about his struggle with depression, life within the royal orbit and how his beloved dog, Ella, saved his life in his emotional new memoir.

"In Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life (out Sept. 24), James, the younger brother of Kate Middleton, shares how Ella helped him survive his darkest moments, including a night in 2017 when he nearly succumbed to his suicidal thoughts.

"Read the excerpt in our bio link."

Some royal fans may be shocked that James has chosen People, given its close affinity to Meghan and Harry.

The history between People and the Sussexes goes back at least five years, when Meghan's friends spoke exclusively to the outlet about the relationship between the duchess and her father, Thomas Markle, in 2019.

People spoke to “five women from Meghan’s inner circle – a longtime friend, a former costar, a friend from LA, a onetime colleague and a close confidante”, all of whom claimed they were “speaking for the first time” anonymously.

Speaking about Meghan’s father, who has repeatedly said he cannot reach his daughter over the years, the duchess's friends clarified: “He knows how to get in touch with her.

“He’s never called; he’s never texted. It’s super-painful.”

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Since 2019, People Magazine has secured several exclusive interviews with the duke and duchess.

They have also often been the first outlet to report exclusive news about the couple, implying a cosy relationship with the Sussexes' communications team.

James Middleton's new memoir, Meet Ella, is not known to contain any information about Prince Harry and Meghan.

However, he has written extensively about Princess Kate, Prince William, Carole Middleton and Pippa Matthews.