Kate Middleton’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, were essential in helping to raise her children, a new book claims.
According to the biography William and Catherine: The Monarchy’s New Era: The Inside Story by Russell Myers, published March 10, the Princess of Wales’ parents were a pillar for her and Prince William when their kids Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, were younger.
“The Middleton family, who had become a constant presence in their lives, were crucial to this. William appreciated their involvement beyond measure, enjoying their company and the normalcy of the environment, whatever the circumstance,” Myers writes, according to Hello! magazine. ” ‘More room to breathe,’ he once told an aide.”
“Michael and Carole enjoyed visiting the couple in Norfolk and would often stay for weekends, providing much-needed extra support for the young family,” he says.
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Prince William, 43, and Princess Kate, 44, have a country home in Norfolk called Anmer Hall, which they received as a wedding gift from Queen Elizabeth, and it’s said to be where Kate feels most at home.
Carole and Michael also live a short car ride away from the royal couple’s main base in Windsor and are a constant presence in their grandchildren’s lives, often hosting George, Charlotte and Louis for sleepovers.
“Her parents are an enduring factor in the upbringing of their grandchildren,” a palace insider previously told PEOPLE, adding that they would be “a reassuring presence” when Kate recovered from a planned abdominal surgery in January 2024.
The Princess of Wales announced in March 2024 that post-operative testing following the operation showed that cancer had been present and that she was undergoing treatment for cancer.
That September, Carole and Michael appeared in the video montage Kate released to share that she completed chemotherapy, where they played a game around a table with her, William and the children in a reflection of their close connection.
The Princess of Wales’ parents have a strong bond with William, as well.
In April 2024, Carole and William reportedly grabbed a drink at a pub in Norfolk, and that June, the Middletons joined him at Royal Ascot, a social staple on the British royal family’s summer calendar.
Princess Kate reduced her royal duties after announcing that she was receiving cancer treatment in March 2024, shared in January 2025 that she was in remission and has resumed a more regular schedule of public engagements since.
In December, her parents attended the fifth edition of her “Together at Christmas” carol service at Westminster Abbey, an event they’ve never missed since their daughter spearheaded it in 2021.
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