CULTURE

James Middleton Announces Engagement to Alizee Thevenet

“She said OUI!”

by Jocelyn Silver

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Instagram/@jmidy

Kate Middleton’s younger brother James Middleton has announced his engagement to French financial analyst Alizee Thevenet. Middleton broke the big news on his excellent Instagram, sharing a photo of the couple on vacation in the Lake District in Northwest England with Thevenet displaying her sapphire and diamond ring. “She said OUI,” wrote Middleton. “Our secret is out but we couldn’t be happier to share the news.”

The Daily Mail was the first to report on the engagement, writing that the couple have moved in together in West London. According to the Mail, they met last year at the South Kensington Club in London through Middleton’s beloved cocker spaniel, Ella (who he once brought as a date to the GQ Man of the Year Awards). According to a source, Thevenet said hello to the dog, and the two began talking. “After Alizee went back to her table, James asked the waiter to give her a note saying: ‘I never normally do this, but would you like to go for a drink with me?,’” said the source. “He also picked up their tab. A few weeks later, they went out for a drink together.”

“It wasn’t until after they’d met for a drink that Alizee realised who he was — one of her friends had to tell her,” the source added. “They met thanks to Ella.”

Middleton also reportedly shared a montage of photos of the couple on his Instagram story, along with a video of them kissing under water, but it has since been deleted. His personalized greeting card company Boomf also shared a congratulations post. His four other dogs have yet to comment.

The Mail also spoke with Thevenet’s father, Jean-Gabriel Thevenet, who said that his daughter is “deliriously happy” with Middleton.

Prepare For Princess Eugenie’s Wedding With This Guide to Adorable Royal Kids at Royal Weddings

Sarah Ferguson and Princess Beatrice, the bridesmaids and page boys, including Prince George and Princess Charlotte, wave as they leave after the royal wedding of Princess Eugenie of York of York and her husband Jack Brooksbank at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle on October 12, 2018 in Windsor, England. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

WPA Pool

At the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, Page boys Prince George (left) and Jasper Dyer and flower girl Princess Charlotte and the Duchess of Cambridge arrive at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. (Photo by Chris Jackson/PA Images via Getty Images)

Chris Jackson – Pool/PA Images

Prince George leads fellow page boys and bridesmaids up the stairs of St. George’s Chapel. Jasper Dyer, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Jessica Mulroney, Ivy Mulroney and Florence van Cutsem follow Prince George’s lead. Florence van Cutsem’s older cousin, Grace, was a bridesmaid in the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton – and memorably stole the show.

WPA Pool

Bridesmaids and Page Boys during the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.

WPA Pool

Prince George, stands with other flower boys and girls after the wedding of Duchess Kate’s sister Pippa Middleton and James Matthews at St. Mark’s Church on May 20, 2017 in Englefield, England.

WPA Pool

The Duchess of Cambridge corals the young Princess Charlotte and fellow pageboys and flower girls at the wedding of her sister, Pippa Middleton to James Matthews at St. Mark’s Church on May 20, 2017 in Englefield, England.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte prepare for their page boy and flower girl duties at the wedding of Pippa Middleton to James Matthews at St. Mark’s Church on May 20, 2017 in Englefield, England.

Princess Charlotte ready to toss flower petals at the wedding of her mother Duchess Catherine’s sister, Pippa Middleton to James Matthews at St. Mark’s Church on May 20, 2017 in Englefield, England.

Pippa Middleton with bridesmaid Grace van Cutsem (L) and Eliza Lopes (R) arrive for the marriage of Their Royal Highnesses Prince William Duke of Cambridge and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 in London, England.

Samir Hussein

Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones, the only granddaughter of Princess Margaret, arrives for the marriage of Their Royal Highnesses Prince William Duke of Cambridge and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 in London, England along with William Lowther-Pinkerton, Lady Louise Windsor and Tom Pettifer.

Samir Hussein

In one of the most viral moments of the 2011 wedding of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Grace Van Cutsem covers her ears from the roar of the crown as the newlyweds share a kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, following their wedding at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 in London, England.

Mark Cuthbert

Well before Prince Harry and Prince William themselves married, they too were page boys in many a royal wedding. Here, Prince Harry attends the wedding of Earl Spencer, Princess Diana’s brother, Charles Althorp and his bride Victoria Lockwood. The ceremony was held at Althorp House on the Althorp Estate, Daventry District, Northamptonshire. Picture taken 19th September 1989. (Photo by Kent Gavin/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)

Mirrorpix

Prince William, around 4 years old, waves as he rides alongside Prince Edward en route to the wedding of his uncle Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.

Sahm Doherty

Prince William, right, wearing a sailor suit, acts as a pageboy at the wedding of Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson on July 23, 1986 in London, England, a very ’80s wedding.

Anwar Hussein

All of the young bridesmaids, in their ’80s puff sleeved dresses, help with Princess Diana’s long train, at the marriage of Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer, 29th July 1981. (Photo by John Shelley Collection/Avalon/Getty Images)

John Shelley Collection/Avalon

At age 12, Prince Charles arrived by coach at the wedding of Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon, at Westminster Abbey in London, England, May 6, 1960. (Photo by Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images)

Loomis Dean

View of party standing at the altar during wedding of Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon, at Westminster Abbey in London, England, May 6, 1960. Princess Margaret’s bridesmaids all wore frilly dresses, as her wedding was well before the sixties started swinging.

Loomis Dean

In 1947, at the wedding of Queen Elizabeth to the Duke of Edinburgh, page boys assisting with the Queen’s train wore kilts in a nod to the Duke’s new title.

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