FROM the moment Prince William started dating Kate Middleton 20 years ago, he made it clear that his relationship with his in-laws was non-negotiable.
Since then, the close-knit Middleton family has been integrated into the fold of the royal family and invited to major events such as Royal Ascot, the late Queen’s Diamond and Platinum Jubilee 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 in the wake of Catherine’s cancer diagnosis. She steps into the breach to help care for George, ten, Charlotte, eight, and Louis. six.
Proud mother Carole Middleton with her daughter Kate, at Royal Ascot in 2017
A still image from Kate’s moving video message, in which she revealed she was undergoing chemotherapy
Carole, right, watches over her grandson, Prince George, during the King’s Cup Regatta in Cowes in 2019
Carole is always in the background, quietly helping her daughter raise her family. Here they are pictured in Cowes in 2019
Carole, right, smiles at Prince George as they attend Princess Charlotte’s christening in 2015
Carole, 69, lives with husband Michael in a £4.7million country house in the village of Bucklebury, 52 miles from Adelaide Cottage, Wales’ home in Windsor Home Park.
After Kate released her touching video message in which she revealed she was undergoing preventive chemotherapy, a family friend has revealed Carole gives Kate, 42, and William, 41, the ‘three R’s’.
“Carole has been the driving force in keeping the family together with minimum fuss and maximum modesty,” the source told The Independent.
‘She picked up George, Louis and Charlotte and took them to school sports matches and gave them endless support. She is a real Mary Poppins-esque figure.
‘She came to the rescue, provided reassurance and was a source of support to 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 much family to William as they are to Catherine.
‘He loves having Carole around to help as she has been with the children from the start and it is easy and reassuring to have her invaluable help.
‘Both with the children and with keeping Catherine well. She’s a strong woman!’
It’s now 18 years since Kate made her first official public appearance, when she attended Second Lieutenant Wales’ passing out parade at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.
Kate Middleton with Carole and Michael Middleton in the front row at Prince William’s passing out parade at Sandhurst in 2007
Carole and Kate are pictured together at London’s Olympia exhibition centre
But William didn’t just send his girlfriend an invitation. He also invited her parents Michael and Carole, who sat next to her in the front row of the public gallery.
Since then, the couple has been invited to numerous historic occasions, but behind the scenes they have come into their own.
It’s no surprise that they spent just one night at Kensington Palace with newborn son George and then headed to the Middletons’ home, where they posted a family photo taken by Michael Middleton.