How Carole, Michael, James and Pippa will rally around Kate Middleton after brother says: 'As a family, we will climb this mountain with you'

The Princess of Wales will be supported by the loving Middleton family as she recovers from cancer.

Even after marrying into one of the most famous families in the world, Kate, 42, has remained close to the Middleton family, with her mother Carole recently pictured visiting her in Windsor.

While the Prince of Wales has been at his wife's side - and representing her at engagements -  Carole, 69, and her father Michael, 74, appear to have been eagerly on-hand.

The couple, along with Kate's siblings Pippa Matthews and James Middleton, have been supporting the royal's recovery at her home in Windsor, which is nearby their own homes.

James, 36, yesterday took to Instagram to share a childhood photo with the Princess on a hiking trip, saying: 'Over the years, we have climbed many mountains together. As a family, we will climb this one with you too.' 

The Princess of Wales revealed she is suffering from cancer

The Princess of Wales' younger brother James took to Instagram to share a childhood photo with the Princess on a hiking trip, saying that they would 'climb this mountain together' after it was revealed Kate has been diagnosed with cancer 

Kate Middleton, 42, yesterday announced that she is undergoing a course of preventative chemotherapy following successful abdominal surgery in January. 

James has previously spoken about how Kate, alongside his parents and sister Pippa rallied round to help him overcome clinical depression. 

'I was very lucky that they were willing to be involved and understood that it’s a process, there's no quick fix to it,' he said. 

'And understanding the way that my mind works, which may differ from theirs or other people's is a really important part, because it was was a process for me as much as it was a process for them, and I think as a family we grew from that.'

He also spoke about how Kate and Pippa, both attended therapy sessions alongside him in support. 

'My sisters came to some of my therapy session,' he said. 'They've always been there during difficult times and they were at my side during the hardest of times as well. For that, I am forever grateful.'

Kate is also very close to her younger sister. 

More than just sisters, the Princess of Wales and her younger sibling are also best friends who spend as much time together as possible.

Pippa plays the active role of auntie to Kate's three children, and the two now have children of similar ages. f

Despite her busy schedule, author and athlete, Pippa is a regular visitor to Windsor Castle and Anmer Hall and is often spotted holidaying with Kate. 

Pippa previously said: 'We spend a lot of time together. We still do a lot together as a family. And I think that's really the heart for all of us is having a really close family that we can sort of be normal with each other, treat each other normally.

'And that's sort of kept us all, you know, affixed to the ground.'

Now it is Kate's turn to lean on the Middleton family for support, and her parents Carole, 69, and Michael, 74, appear to have been eagerly on-hand.

The couple, along with Kate's siblings Pippa Matthews and James, have been supporting the royal's recovery at her home in Windsor, which is near to their own homes.

Kate Middleton is seen arriving with her mother Carole Middleton (R) and sister Pippa Middleton (L) at the Goring Hotel the night before her wedding on April 28, 2011 

Kate's recent outing with mother, Carole, marked her first sighting since Christmas Day. 

The royal was pictured sitting in the passenger seat of Carole's 4x4 Audi, near Windsor Castle. The photos were taken shortly before 9am, suggesting the mother and daughter were returning from the school run.

Carole and her husband Michael, 74, have long been known for their hands-on parenting approach and often host their grandchildren for sleepovers.

Kate's parents have been 'brilliant', according to friends, at stepping in and helping out, always willing to drop everything at a moment's notice. 

They were a key part of Prince George's life from the get go, with William and Kate immediately decamping to Bucklebury a day after leaving the Lindo Wing and Proud grandfather Michael overseeing the future King's first photoshoot in the garden a month later. 

More than just sisters, the Princess of Wales  and her younger sibling are also best friends who spend as much time together as possible (seen together at Wimbledon with Meghan Markle in 2019)

Although Carole rarely gives interviews, she's given the occasional glimpse into her family life, describing how she puts Christmas trees in their bedrooms at her home every year to decorate and puts Scandinavian-style gnomes around the house to make them laugh. 

She added: 'I love to make Christmas fun and exciting for my grandchildren which is what our Silly Santa edit is for!'

Carole has also hinted in the past that she does not spoil the children at Christmas, and prefers to give thoughtful gifts, arguing 'the smallest presents can give the most enjoyment'.

The mother-of-three has also previously revealed how she keeps the grandchildren entertained by encouraging them to get involved in gardening.

She told Saga magazine last year: 'If I'm doing planting with my grandchildren I like to have it all laid out at 'activity stations' with their own little trowel and pot so they can get started immediately.'

She added: 'It's important for children to grow up appreciating nature and part of that is allowing them to get a bit muddy.'

And Carole's decision to step back from the day-to-day running of her online party paraphernalia business last year has given her more free time to help out with her grandchildren and support her daughter. 

Carole pictured with baby Kate

(L-R) Carole Middleton, Michael Middleton and Pippa Matthews leave after attending the 'Together at Christmas' community carol service at Westminster Abbey on, 8 December 2021

Kate Middleton with her sister Pippa at Simon Sebag Montefiore's 'Young Stalin' book launch at Aspreys in London on May 14, 2007

Kate Middleton and mother Carole visit The Spirit of Christmas Shopping Festival at London's Olympia

The royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on April 29, 2011

Carole Middleton and Michael Middleton depart Westminster Abbey following the Coronation of King Charles III on May 6, 2023

Kate Middleton (R), her mother Carole Middleton and sister Pippa Middleton arrive at The Goring Hotel after visiting Westminster Abbey on April 28, 2011

Prince George and Carole Middleton (R) attend the King's Cup Regatta on August 08, 2019 in Cowes

Speaking to Tatler, insiders who knew the Middleton children at school said the family was notorious for 'doing everything to the very highest of standards'.

'There were huge picnics on sports days, the smartest tennis rackets - that kind of thing. It made the rest of us all feel rather hopeless,' a fellow parents told the outlet.

'Ultimately, Carole has played a blinder as a mother. Not only are all of her children unfairly good-looking, they are also famously charming.

'Always the first to write a thank-you letter, they dance all night and are still the first up in the morning, plumping cushions and washing up.'

Carole has also always reportedly been 'one of the girls' with her daughters, meaning they would never shy away from involving their mother in their life.

The Princess' parents were also able to provide a privileged upbringing for the princess, who attended the famous Wiltshire boarding school - Marlborough College.

Both Kate and her younger siblings James, 36, and Pippa, 40, attended the institution, and it is said to have transformed the future Queen from a 'shy bullied girl' to a 'hockey captain that snagged a Prince'.

Meanwhile, Kate is famously close to her sister Pippa and chose her as bridesmaid when she married Prince Wiliam in 2011. 

She's also relied on Pippa at key moments, such as a tense outing to Wimbledon with Meghan Markle in 2019. 

In the months prior to the outing, rumours had started to circulate of tensions between the two royal wives and the Wimbledon day out was a high profile opportunity to put them to bed. 

So it's no wonder that Kate invited her sister along for support on the much-scrutinised occasion.