Inside the Princess of Wales's inner circle - Kate's closest friends

Lady Laura Meade, formerly Laura Marsham, is the daughter of Julian Marsham, 8th Earl of Romney. She is the wife of one of Prince William's best friends, James Meade, who co-delivered the best man's speech at the royal wedding in 2011. The couple married two years later, and the Duke returned the favour and played usher at his Etonian friend's big day. 

Lady Laura is Prince Louis' godmother, while James is Princess Charlotte's godfather. 

Meanwhile, Zoe's daughter, Zalie Warren, was a bridesmaid at Prince Harry and Meghan's wedding. She is one of Harry's goddaughters and the daughter of one of his best friends, Jake Warren. 

The Warren family have long been connected to the royal family; Jake's father John Warren was the late Queen's racing manager. The father-and-son team run Highclere Stud in Newbury together. 

Emilia attended Marlborough College with Kate, and the pair have been tight ever since. Following the royal couple's brief split in 2007, Emilia accompanied Kate on holiday to Ibiza. 

She has since been made one of Prince George's godmothers, and currently runs an interior design company. It has previously been reported that she helped Kate redecorate Kensington Palace and Anmer Hall. Her husband David also attended Eton College with William.

James, who is the son of Richard Meade, the Olympic three-day eventer, attended Eton College with Prince William back in 2000. Along with his wife Lady Laura, the couple live near Anmer Hall, which is William and Kate's country home in Norfolk. 

In 2011, James delivered the part of the best man's speech with Thomas van Straubenzee at William and Kate's royal wedding. He is also godfather to Princess Charlotte. 

Oliver is a good friend of both William and Kate's; he was a student with them at St. Andrew's University in Scotland. He is also one of Prince George's godparents.

Sophie is close a close friend of Kate's, so much so that the Princess chose her to be one of Princess Charlotte's godmothers. It's therefore not surprising that Sophie, who lives close to Prince William and Kate's country home, Anmer Hall, asked her goddaughter to be a bridesmaid at her wedding to Robert Snuggs in 2018. 

The close friends go way back and have been pictured at various events together, from Wimbledon to Christmas Day church services in Norfolk. Sophie was also a guest at Pippa Middleton's wedding and Prince Harry and Meghan's royal nuptials. 

She once used to date Thomas van Straubenzee, Prince William's close friend who also happens to be Princess Charlotte's godfather. Sophie even joined the Cambridges during their skiing vacation in 2016.

Hannah Carter, nee Gillingham, is one of Kate's best friends from school. Both William and Kate attended her wedding to Robert Carter (the son of wealthy Norfolk landowner Robert Carter) in May 2012, the weekend coincided with the royal couple's first wedding anniversary. Hannah is also one of Prince Louis' godparents.

Alicia is the younger sister of Olympic star William Fox-Pitt (pictured), and is a loyal friend of Kate's from her Marlborough College days. 

The two friends took part in the famous Sisterhood rowing team, with Alicia saying at the time: "[Kate's] been training with us. All being well she will be in the boat. She is a very gifted sportswoman and we played a lot of sport together at school." 

Alicia married entrepreneur Sebastian Stoddart in July 2013, unfortunately, Kate missed the big day as she was due to give birth to Prince George.

Rose is the wife of David Cholmondeley, the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley and Lord Great Chamberlain. The couple tied the knot following a short engagement in 2009, and they live at Houghton Hall in Norfolk, just over three miles away from Kate and William's Anmer Hall. 

Kate was spotted attending a festival at Rose and David's home during her summer break in 2023.