On Friday, the Princess of Wales shared the news that she had been diagnosed with cancer and would be undertaking chemotherapy. Her announcement came amid weeks of speculation about her whereabouts following the sharing of an edited Mother's Day photo and internet conspiracy theories alongside her public outing with husband Prince William, at a farm shop in Windsor.
While the royal will no doubt be depending on the support of her husband and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, she also has a selection of friends that she can rely on. Meet the group who will no doubt rally around the royal during her recovery...
Carole Middleton
One of the key people that Kate will be able to depend on is her doting mother, Carole. Carole has always been at Kate's side and was snapped driving the Princess of Wales last month as she recuperated from her abdominal surgery.
Pippa Middleton
It's not just her mum that Kate will rely on, but also her older sister, Pippa. The duo are incredibly close with one another, with Pippa typically attending Wimbledon alongside her sister and Kate's annual Christmas carol concert.
James Middleton
Kate's younger brother James will also be a support pillar for the Princess of Wales. Like Pippa, James and Kate are frequently seen at events and the businessman always supports his older sister's ventures.
Duchess Sophie
Following their move to Windsor, William and Kate now live incredibly close to the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. Although Sophie will be very busy in her role as a working royal, both she and Kate married into the royal family and so have shared experiences. The pair have also teamed up on occasion, sharing a message with nurses during the coronavirus lockdowns and hosting the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange in 2018.
Emilia Jardine-Paterson
Emilia is an old school friend of both the Prince and Princess and is reportedly the woman who introduced them while they were studying at St Andrews University. Emilia works as an interior designer and reportedly helped the royal couple redesign their home of Amner Hall, in Norfolk. The interior designer is also one of Prince George's seven godparents.
Sophie Snugg
Sophie is an old friend of Kate's, and the pair used to party together in their younger years. The duo still hang out and Sophie has been seen accompanying Kate to Wimbledon and was also involved in the royal's 31st birthday celebrations. In 2015, she made a godparent to Princess Charlotte and attended the young royal's christening.
Natasha Archer
A former personal assistant to Kate, Natasha Archer, or Tash as she is fondly called in royal circles, is the creative brain behind the Duchess' chic and impeccable style. She was appointed Kate's stylist shortly after the royal announced her second pregnancy and since then, Tash has been upping the "it factor" of Kate's wardrobe.
She has encouraged the Princess to experiment a bit more with her outfits, while also ensuring that Kate holds tight to her style-icon status. Tash has formed part of Kate's close entourage while on tour as well, for example during the William and Kate's trip to Australia and New Zealand, and their family tour of Canada in 2016.
Trini Foyle
Although Trini and Kate don't have the most high-profile friendship, the Princess of Wales will no doubt count on the support of her long-time friend, with the duo pushing their buggies together on the ground of Kensington Palace when their children were young. Trini also helped support Kate during her brief split from William during their student days and was in attendance at their wedding and children's christenings.
Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo
Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo cares for the royal children while their parents are away on tour, sometimes with the help of Kate's doting mum Carole Middleton. Maria enjoys a close bond with the children and William and Kate. She has often bought gifts for the youngsters, including the pink dress that Charlotte famously wore for her first official solo portraits.
Maria started working for the Prince and Princess when George was a mere tot. She was trained at Norland College, a childcare training college in Bath.
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