Kate Middleton's cancer battle: Loyal family including Carole and Pippa Middleton will rally around Princess
- Kate, 42, is undergoing a course of preventative chemotherapy for cancer
- READ MORE: Kate Middleton reveals she has cancer
- READ MORE: Kate Middleton cancer diagnosis latest news: Princess of Wales reveals health update two months after surgery
She's been a constant reassuring presence throughout her daughter's life.
So it's safe to say that Carole Middleton will be supporting Kate Middleton through her cancer treatment.
The Princess of Wales, 42, today announced that she is undergoing a course of preventative chemotherapy following successful abdominal surgery in January.
While the Prince of Wales has been at his wife's side - and representing her at engagements - Kate's parents Carole, 69, and 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.
![The Princess of Wales released a video message revealing her diagnosis](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/22/17/82785275-13228479-image-a-39_1711129323598.jpg)
The Princess of Wales released a video message revealing her diagnosis
![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](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/22/17/82784771-13228479-image-a-40_1711129355273.jpg)
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
In a video statement released today, 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.
'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.'
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.
Although Carole rarley 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 Caole'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](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/22/17/82784763-13228479-image-m-52_1711129610361.jpg)
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](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/22/17/82784781-13228479-image-a-44_1711129487551.jpg)
(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](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/22/17/82785003-13228479-image-a-46_1711129509434.jpg)
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](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/22/17/82784773-13228479-image-a-41_1711129469184.jpg)
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](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/22/17/82784777-13228479-image-m-50_1711129544048.jpg)
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](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/22/17/82784779-13228479-image-a-42_1711129475057.jpg)
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](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/22/17/82785017-13228479-image-a-48_1711129526649.jpg)
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](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/22/17/82784775-13228479-image-a-49_1711129533014.jpg)
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.