When the Princess of Wales went through one of the darkest times of her life after her cancer diagnosis two years ago, she was fortunate to have wonderful support from her husband Prince William and other family members.
But there was one person in particular who dropped everything to rush to her side: her mother, Carole Middleton. And as Catherine went through gruelling chemotherapy, Carole played a vital role in her daughter’s recovery and supporting her grandchildren, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven.
“Carole is owed a huge debt of gratitude, but of course she would say, ‘It’s just what a mother does for their child,’” says a royal insider.
“And it wasn’t just helping out her daughter. William was juggling caring for his wife with looking after the children and getting on with work, and Carole played a huge part in enabling him to do that.”
Carole, 71, and her husband Mike, 76, were the first people Catherine and William told about her cancer diagnosis. Carole, already a very hands-on grandmother, was helping out with the children after Catherine, 44, underwent abdominal surgery in January 2024. She learned she had the disease in February, but didn’t make her shock diagnosis public until releasing an emotional video in March, when the children were on their school holidays, and she and William, 43, had time to break the news to them.
The look that said everything
There had been intense public speculation about what was wrong with the future queen following her operation, and her family became even more protective of her than usual.
In early March, Catherine made her first public appearance after surgery, riding through the Windsor estate with her mother at the wheel. The pair had just dropped the children at school, and Carole’s steely gaze marked her as a force to be reckoned with.
“It was a look that said, ‘I will do anything to protect my child,’” says the source.
“You’d definitely keep your distance.”
Holding the family together
Carole was understandably distraught at the news of Catherine’s illness, says royal expert Jennie Bond.
“She was carrying a huge burden of worry over her beloved daughter battling cancer. But she knew she had to stay strong for the family, comfort Catherine, support William and reassure the children. She was also a practical help, keeping the household running smoothly. “She’s been a tower of strength for William and Catherine.”
A bond that’s never wavered
Even though she’d had tough times of her own – her business Party Pieces had collapsed the previous year with debts of just over $5 million – there was never any doubt that she would step up for the eldest of her three children.
“Catherine and her mum have always been very close,” says Jennie.
“I think they have a deep friendship, along with their normal love for one another.”
Carole has been there for Catherine in other difficult occasions. In 2007, a heartbroken Catherine turned to her mother for support after splitting from William, who had refused to commit to a future with her. Mum and daughter went on a three-day girls’ trip to Dublin.
A carefully timed comeback
Shortly after returning to London, Catherine entered what was known as her “party girl phase”, frequently being photographed in flattering outfits leaving nightclubs and looking like she was having a great time. It’s unclear whether her mother encouraged her to get out and enjoy herself, but friends of William say seeing Catherine looking stunning in those photos helped convince him to try to rekindle their romance.
When she suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum (severe morning sickness) while pregnant with George, she went home to her mum and dad after a stint in hospital. William and Catherine spent Christmas cocooned with the Middletons instead of celebrating at Sandringham with the rest of the royal family. And when George was born in 2013, the new parents took their son to stay at the Middleton family home in Bucklebury, Berkshire, for several weeks so Carole could help out.
A steady hand in times of loss
After Queen Elizabeth II died, while William travelled up to Balmoral to be with his family, Catherine called her mother to come over to their then-home, Adelaide Cottage, to provide extra support for the children. It was their first day at their new school, and after hearing about how they’d got on, she delivered the sad news that their beloved “Gan-Gan” had passed away.
Carole’s presence gave Catherine crucial support, allowing her to care for her children even as she grappled with the Queen’s loss.
Always there, no matter what
Royal editor Ingrid Seward says Carole has always been a “rock” for her daughter and will continue to be for as long as she can.
“Carole is practical and unflappable,” says Ingrid.
“Rather than ask what she can do, she just gets on with it. She is very proactive. When William went back to royal duties after having a break to look after his sick wife, Carole was doing things like the school run and filling the freezer with the kids’ favourite foods.”
A family always by her side
While Catherine is particularly close to her mum, she also has a very strong bond with her father Michael, sister Pippa Matthews, 42, and brother James, 38. They’ve been incredibly supportive behind the scenes, says an insider, with Pippa also stepping up in public to help her older sister.
One of Catherine’s first public appearances after having time off to deal with her illness was at Wimbledon, and Pippa joined her and niece Charlotte in case she needed support.
“Pippa was often seen with her sister when Catherine went through her partying phase after breaking up with William – there are shots of them laughing in the back of a taxi,” points out a friend of the family.
“Pippa has proved to be a great wingman when needed and Catherine knows she can trust her implicitly.”
A foundation for royal life
Many royal commentators agree that having such strong family support is one of the reasons why Catherine has been able to slot into such a high-profile role and carry out her duties impeccably. They say she’s grateful not only for her loving and grounded upbringing, and knowing everyone in her family has her back, but for the way they’ve behaved with such dignity and integrity since her choice of husband landed them in the spotlight.
“When Catherine married William, her family’s lives changed instantly, just as hers did,” says Jennie.
“Privacy was no longer guaranteed, discretion was essential and there was a lot to learn about life behind palace walls. “But they haven’t put a foot wrong and it’s obvious that they continue to play a big part in the lives of Catherine, William and the children.”
