FROM the moment Prince William started dating Kate Middleton two decades ago, he made it clear that his relationship with his in-laws was non-negotiable.
Since then, the close-knit Middleton family has been brought into the royal family fold and has been invited to key events such as Royal Ascot, the late Queen’s Diamond and Platinum Jubilees and the King’s Coronation.
Now Kate’s mother Carole has become “the driving force” as the family helps care for the Prince and Princess of Wales following Catherine’s cancer diagnosis, filling the void to help care for George, ten years old, Charlotte, eight, and Louis. six.
Proud mother Carole Middleton with her daughter Kate at Royal Ascot in 2017
A still from Kate’s touching video message, in which she reveals she was undergoing chemotherapy.
Carole, right, looking after her grandson Prince George at the King’s Cup Regatta in Cowes in 2019.
Carole is always in the background, quietly helping her daughter raise their family. Here, photographed in Cowes in 2019.
Carole, right, smiles at Prince George as they attend Princess Charlotte’s christening in 2015.
Carole, 69, lives with her husband Michael in a £4.7 million manor house in the village of Bucklebury, which is 32 miles from Adelaide Cottage, Wales’ home in Windsor Home Park.
After Kate posted her touching video message, revealing she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy, a family friend revealed that Carole provides Kate, 42, and William, 41, with the “three R’s.”
“Carole has been the driving force that has kept the family together with minimum fuss and maximum modesty,” the source told The Independent.
“She transported and picked up George, Louis and Charlotte, took them to school sports games and provided endless support. She is a true Mary Poppins-like figure.
“She came to the rescue, provided reassurance and was a rock for Catherine and William as they came to terms with the news.”
Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, said: ‘Carole and Michael are as family to William as they are to Catherine.
‘He loves that Carole is around to help as she has been with the children from the beginning and it is easy and comforting to have her invaluable help.
‘Both with the children and to keep Catherine’s spirits up. She is a strong woman!
It has been 18 years since Kate made her first official public appearance, attending Second Lieutenant Wales’ passing out parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Kate Middleton with Carole and Michael Middleton sitting front row at Prince William’s passing out parade at Sandhurst in 2007
Carole and Kate appear together at the Olympia exhibition center in London.
But William didn’t just send an invitation to his girlfriend. He also invited her parents, Michael and Carole, who sat with her in the front row of the public platform.
Since then, the couple have been invited to a number of historic occasions, but it is behind the scenes where they have come into their own.
It’s no surprise that after spending just one night at Kensington Palace with their newborn son, George, they moved to the Middleton family home, where they posted a family photo taken by Michael Middleton.