Princess Kate has been leaning heavily on her close-knit family as she navigates a challenging health journey.

Royal sources reveal that her “circle of trust is tiny,” primarily comprising her mother Carole, and siblings Pippa and James.

In March, Princess Kate, 42, shared through video message that she had started a course of preventative chemotherapy.

She has since not made any official public appearances in 2024, choosing to focus on her recovery.

A friend of Princess Kate and Prince William said: “The key thing for her now is avoiding any kind of stress or anxiety and just getting on with the business of getting better.

“They will bail out and be off to Sandringham the moment school breaks up.”

The friend also mentioned that Princess Kate prefers to lean on her immediate family rather than the couple’s broader circle of friends.

While many friends, including Prince William who will serve as best man, are expected to attend the Duke of Westminster’s wedding next month, Princess Kate has chosen to stay close to her family.

They told The Daily Beast: “The circle of trust is tiny. She has been surrounded by Carole and Michael, and (sister) Pippa and (brother) James have obviously been there for her as well.

“They are an incredibly tight family, and Catherine feels absolutely confident relying on them. They have been there for her for decades and never let her down.”

During her video address, Princess Kate said: “In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present.

“My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.”

The Princess of Wales continued: “This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family.

“As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment.

“But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be ok.”