The Princess of Wales has a small, close-knit circle of friends and confidants who are constantly by her side.
Kate Middleton has been diagnosed with cancer and has begun chemotherapy – and there’s no doubt her inner circle are by her side.
The Princess of Wales, 42, has been away from the public eye for months as she recovers from abdominal surgery.
With few updates from Kensington Palace, concern over Kate’s health and well-being rose and quickly spiralled into wild speculation.
Kate said in a video message on Friday: ‘This of course came as a huge shock and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family.’
As Kate asks the public and news media to respect her desire for privacy, royal well-wishers may be reassured knowing she has a tight-knit circle of family, friends and confidants supporting her.
As royal expert Jennie Bond told OK!: ‘One reason Kate has made such a success of her royal role is that she has a strong inner circle – and it extends way beyond her parents and siblings.
‘But sometimes your oldest friends – who’ve been with you through thick and thin – are just the ticket. Kate has maintained deep friendships with several of her schoolmates, who obviously knew her way before royalty came her way so they’ll know just how to help.’
So who are the people Kate who will be by the princess’ side during her cancer experience?
More than just sisters, the Princess of Wales and her younger sibling Pippa Middleton are best friends who spend as much time together as possible.
Pippa plays the active role of auntie to Kate’s three children, and the two now have children of similar ages.
Kate has always trusted Pippa with important moments in her life, from appointing her maid-of-honour to organising her hen do, and she remains an integral part of her support network.
Speaking of their relationship, Pippa once said: ‘We spend a lot of time together. We have a very normal, sisterly relationship. We’re very close. And, you know, we support each other and get each other’s opinions and things.’
Catherine’s mother is Carole Middleton, 69, a former British Airways flight attendant from Perivale, London.
Carole, the daughter of a painter and part-time retail worker, planned on being a teacher bt her parents could not afford to put her through college.
She and aristocrat Michael Middleton, welcomed Kate in January 1982, their second daughter, Pippa in 1983 and their son James five years later.
Even after her daughter became the future queen consort, Carole has remained largely private, with royal pundits describing her as having great ambitions for her children who wanted them to have what she didn’t growing up.
She has become something of a ‘second mother figure’ to William and a ‘hands-on’ grandmother.
Widely considered to be Kate’s oldest and closest friend, Emilia Jardine Paterson is said to be her most valued confidant and an irreplaceable figure in her life.
An interior designer by trade, Emilia studied at Marlborough College with Kate and is said to be the one who first introduced her to Prince William at a party in 1999, when they were just 17.
Emilia is thought to be partly responsible for some of the redecoration at both Kensington Palace and Anmer Hall, Kate’s countryside retreat in Norfolk.
Her husband, David Jardine-Paterson, is a descendant of wealthy Scottish landowners and attended Eton with William, and together they have three children: Alexander, Leo, and Lucia, who are all similar ages to the royal children.
Emilia was reportedly one of the first people asked to be Prince George’s godmother, and she remains one of Kate’s most trusted confidantes to this day.
Another close friend and confidant of Kate’s, Lady Laura lives in Norfolk not far from Anmer Hall and is frequently spotted with the Princess at social events and parties.
Her husband, James Meade, also attended Eton with William and delivered a Best Man’s speech at the couple’s wedding in 2011.
The couples have remained close over the years and have been spotted going on double dates together on several occasions.
Lady Laura was also named godmother to Prince Louis in 2018, while Mr Meade, known as ‘Meadey’ to his friends, once took part in a charity boxing match attended by William and Kate and is one of Princess Charlotte’s godfathers.
Sophie Snuggs, a close family friend of the Middletons, has moved in royal circles for years and is one of an elite group of English farming families known as the ‘Turnip Toffs.’
The Norfolk native is a regular at royal events and has been spotted attending many skiing trips alongside Kate. She has also previously joined the royals on their Christmas Day walk to church in Sandringham.
Sophie settled down and married wealthy portfolio director Robert Snuggs at St Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Norfolk.
William and Kate were both in attendance at the bash, with Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte also stealing the show as page boy and flower girl.
Sophie is also Princess Charlotte’s godmother and appears to share a close bond with her. She was snapped holding the young princess in her arms at her wedding, which was the first time the young princess had been seen in public being held by someone other than her parents.
Although known by her official title of Kensington Palace’s PA, Natasha Archer has often been described as Princess Kate’s right-hand woman – as well as her stylist.
Natasha has been present in Kate’s life for many years and was even one of the first people outside of the family to meet Prince George.
In recent months she has also proved to be essential to Kate’s recovery and has been spotted driving away from The London Clinic where the Princess underwent surgery in January.
A source told Grazia: ‘Natasha and Kate get on very well. She has always supported and advised Kate – and the royal loves Natasha’s style, so it seemed like an obvious appointment.’
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