Carole Middleton was 'solid as a rock' for William following Kate’s cancer diagnosis

Carole Middleton was 'solid as a rock' for William following Kate’s cancer diagnosis A royal expert has revealed how the Princess of Wales’ mother was a huge support for William amid Kate’s health battle, as she would ‘take him to the pub to talk’ Princess Kate’s mother, Carole Middleton, was a huge support for Prince William and their children amid the Princess of Wales ’ cancer diagnosis, according to a royal expert. When Kate was diagnosed with cancer in 2024, she took a step back from her royal duties to focus on undergoing treatment and recovering away from the public eye. And while William attended occasional engagements during this time, he also reduced his number of public appearances, as he focused on supporting his ill wife and looking after their children, George, Charlotte and Louis, through the difficult time. A royal expert has now claimed that one major support for the Prince of Wales during the time was Kate’s mother, Carole Middleton. Royal author Robert Jobson told Hello! Magazine that Carole would take her son-in-law on trips out of the house to give him the chance to talk about his family’s hardships. Jobson told the publication: “[Carole] was there to support William and was there all the time for the grandchildren. She's been as solid as a rock.” “When everything was falling apart and he needed someone to talk to, she was the one. She took him out to the pub and they would sit and talk. She's been a good sounding-board, a wise head.” William has spoken previously about the difficult time his family endured during Kate’s cancer battle, which coincided with King Charles also being diagnosed with cancer two years ago. Last year, William appeared on the TV show The Reluctant Traveller alongside host Eugene Levy, as the prince opened up on the ‘hardest year of his life’ in the rare television appearance. After their tour of Windsor Castle, William and Eugene made their way to the local pub for a pint, where the Prince of Wales spoke candidly about the difficulties he and his family had recently faced. In the emotional clip, William admits: "I'd say 2024 was the hardest year I've ever had. You know, life is sent to test us as well, and being able to overcome that is what makes us who we are." In the months before the TV appearance, William praised the bravery of Kate and Charles while on a solo tour in South Africa, while admitting their health battles had been hard on the whole family. He said at the time: "Honestly? It's been dreadful. It's probably been the hardest year in my life." "So, trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult. But I'm so proud of my wife, I'm proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done. But from a personal family point of view, it's been brutal."