Carole Middleton has been "indispensable" to both Prince William and Princess Kate as they come to terms with her cancer diagnosis, with a royal expert revealing how she regularly "whizzes" round to help with bath time.
The 69-year-old is known to have an incredibly close relationship with the Wales family, including her grandchildren, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Now a royal expert has detailed how vital she is when it comes to helping Kate and William raise their young family.
Carole and husband Michael reside in Bucklebury - just a short drive from the Waleses' Windsor home, Adelaide Cottage. And it was previously revealed that she would make regular visits even to London's Kensington Palace in order to lend a hand.
Royal journalist and author Katie Nicholl previously revealed on the True Royalty documentary 'Kate Middleton: Heir We Go Again': "One of the things that allows William and Kate to be so ordinary is the presence of the Middletons in their lives."
Meghan Markle 'to unleash her own memoirs' as Prince Harry's drops next weekShe added, "Carole is a regular through those golden gates at Kensington Palace. She whizzes through in her Land Rover. There is no security because everybody knows her. She turns up to help with bedtime and bath time. She is absolutely indispensable."
It comes after a family friend revealed how Carole has been playing a vital role behind the scenes following Princess Kate's diagnosis.
A Middleton family friend told The Independent that Carole is on hand to provide the young family with the "three Rs". They said: "She's come to the rescue, provided reassurance, and has been a rock to Catherine and William as they come to terms with the news."
The source continued: "Carole has been the driving force keeping the family together with minimum fuss and maximum modesty. She's ferried and fetched George, Louis and Charlotte, taken them to school sports matches and given them endless support."
Royal commentator and biographer Duncan Larcombe further told the Mirror: "I think Carole and Michael will be supporting the family a lot. I think they were made aware of [the cancer] when Kate was made aware of it, and have played an important part in supporting the family since.
"They'll have rallied around her, especially her young family. Carole and Michael will have essentially thrown a safety blanket around the young children to help protect them. In times like this for Kate, it is hugely important. It is crucial the children are looked after carefully.
"William is very much like the adopted son to Carole and Michael Middleton - and he always has been. One of the things that has clearly strengthened William and Kate's relationship from the beginning was the fact that Kate came from a very tight-knit family. It is something that he has kind of lacked in his life, obviously losing his mother. So it is only natural [Carole and Michael] will step into the breach and support [the Waleses] throughout this in every way.
"The Middletons are the perfect antidote really to the pomp and pageantry of the , because they are quite an ordinary family unit, which will be important to help aid Kate's recovery. I think what we will see now over the next coming weeks and months is William really focusing on the Middleton family and really being that adopted son."
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