Princess Kate informed her father-in-law, King Charles, that she would be carving out her royal role within the Firm at her own pace, with the clear aim of putting family first, a royal author has claimed.

In a signal that required a “lot of courage”, royal author, Robert Jobson, who penned ‘Catherine: The Princess of Wales’, describes how she informed Queen Camilla and King Charles of her decision.

Robert told Hello! Magazine: “With her children, she made it very clear to both the late Queen and to the Prince of Wales, as he was – now the King – that she’s not going to be rushed into doing things that she doesn’t necessarily want to do.”

He added: “That takes quite a lot of courage, because you’re in a very alien world.”

Kate grew up in Berkshire with her two younger siblings, Pippa and James Middleton, and later went on to study Art History at the University of St Andrews where she met Prince William in 2001.

Kate and William share three young children together – Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six.

The royal author added: “I think she realises that she only has one shot at this. She’s got three young children, and they have to come first.”

Princess Kate released an emotional video in March when she informed the public of her cancer diagnosis, and Robert believes the Princess of Wales is right to prioritise her private and family life at this time.

He said: “She’s a person who wants to find solutions and rise above the noise and the drama, and I think, given what she’s gone through, you don’t want to waste any time on noise, on drama, when you’ve had anything to do with your health.”

He also claimed it is a time when you “live day by day”. He added: “The difference between her and other people is that, in your career, you may have different phases. With her career, it’s only going to get more and more official.”