Prince William has formed a very close bond with his mother-in-law, Carole Middleton over the years, particularly after his wife, Princess Kate, was diagnosed with cancer.

The Prince of Wales has faced a challenging few months following his father, King Charles’s cancer diagnosis in February, and the subsequent one from his wife last month.

But while William may have grown close to his stepmother, Queen Camilla, he has also become very close with his mother-in-law, with the pair reportedly spotted at a “low-key” pub outing in Norfolk recently.

It is understood that Kate’s mother stayed with the royal pair in Norfolk over Easter, as the princess undergoes preventative chemotherapy for her illness.

The Daily Mail’s Richard Eden wrote: “I’m told he popped into a pub in North Norfolk at the weekend with his mother-in-law, who is said to have been staying with the Prince and Princess of Wales for Easter.

“A patron tells me: ‘It was all very low-key, with no great fanfare. He just walked in and through the pub. He appeared to be with Carole Middleton.’

“There was no sign of Catherine, who is being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer.”

Mrs Middleton is understood to have been rallying around the Wales family after Kate’s diagnosis, providing “endless support”.

A source close to the Middletons told the Independent: “Carole has been the driving force keeping the family together with minimum fuss and maximum modesty.

“She’s ferried and fetched George, Louis and Charlotte, taken them to school sports matches and given them endless support. She’s been a real Mary Poppins-like figure.

“She’s come to the rescue, provided reassurance, and has been a rock to Catherine and William as they come to terms with the news.”

Kate’s mother was also snapped driving her daughter around close to Windsor Castle last month in what were the first pictures of the royal since her abdominal surgery in January.

Meanwhile, the doting grandmother of seven has provided a “real sense of normality amid any chaos” to William and Kate throughout their 13-year marriage.

Royal expert Angela Levin told The Sun in 2021: “[Carole] made him feel secure, comfortable and protected and he didn’t have to worry about what he said or be responsible for her emotions.”

The same year, Carole opened up on her role as a grandmother to Good Housekeeping, saying: “I want to run down the hills, climb the trees and go through the tunnel at the playground.

“As long as I am able to, that’s what I’ll be doing. I cook with them, I muck around dancing, we go on bike rides.”

Elsewhere, another royal expert spoke about how William has finally found someone he can “confide” in Kate’s mother.

Royal expert Rachael Andrews told OK! in 2022: “He [William] of course, lost Diana when he was very young and probably looks up to Carole because he’s lacked a mother figure for so much of his life.

“With Carole and Michael, he’s got people to confide in who are removed from the monarchy.”

The magazine even claimed that William has been known to help out at their Berkshire home by washing the car with his father-in-law.

Another source close to the family previously told the Sun in 2020: “William’s in-laws have become like second parents and Carole is almost a Diana-type mum.”

It comes after the Prince of Wales last week broke his silence on social media following Kate’s cancer diagnosis to mark Lioness star Rachel Daly’s retirement from international football.

William thanked Daly for her “unforgettable” career on the international stage and joked that she will be able to focus on his beloved team Aston Villa, where she plays as a forward.

He wrote: “Thank you for so many unforgettable performances with Lionesses, Rachel Daly. Plenty more goals for Villa now! W.”