Minimum fuss and maximum modesty: Princess Kate’s family step up into critical…

Princess Kate stepped back out on the royal stage last week after what has been described by her husband Prince William as a “brutal” year for the family.

The Princess of Wales, 42, attended parts of the Qatar state visit a week ago before hosting her own Together At Christmas carol service on Friday to mark the end of a difficult year following her cancer diagnosis.

Although the mum-of-three completed her chemotherapy treatment in September, she is still recovering and making a gradual return to work with the help of her nearest and dearest, including her parents Michael Middleton and Carole Middleton, who were spotted supporting the princess at her Christmas concert last week.

Princess Kate’s siblings James Middleton and Pippa Middleton Matthews have also reportedly been a great source of comfort for the princess.

Speaking on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show, Vanity Fair’s royal correspondent Katie Nicholl spoke about just how “pivotal” Princess Kate’s family have been this year, with the family likely to spend a lot of time with the future Queen over the upcoming festive period.

This would not be the first time, with the Middletons having built a strong relationship with the Royal Family since Kate married Prince William in 2011.

Katie observed: “The Middletons have been very, very welcomed into the royal fold. They have a very close relationship, and they had a lovely relationship with the late Queen.

“I think there’s a good relationship between the King and the Middletons. The Middletons have been so pivotal and important this year.”

As well as being there for Kate, it has been reported that both Michael and Carole Middleton have been a great help with their grandchildren Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six, during what has been a difficult year. This has been appreciated by both the princess and the children, especially the young Prince Louis.

At Kate’s carol service last week, the royal children were each asked to attach a note to the Kindness tree outside Westminster Abbey to thank someone who has helped them. Prince Louis used his note to thank his grandparents and wrote: “Thank you to granny and grandpa because they have played games with me.

A source close to the Middletons also revealed what else Carole, 69, has been doing to help the young family in addition to playing games with her grandchildren.

The source 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.