Princess of Wales: She can now rely on these four women

It’s been a difficult few weeks for Catherine, Princess of Wales. After her abdominal surgery, the otherwise energetic royal is suddenly in need of help. Prince William is at her side, but the heir to the throne has to attend appointments again after a short break from care. But Kate is not alone, after all, there are four strong women in her life that she can always count on.

The royal family started the new year with bad news: first the health of Catherine, Princess of Wales, 42, worried the British people, then the prostate operation announced shortly afterwards by King Charles, 75. While about the procedure on the wife of the heir to the throne While it was largely kept quiet in the aftermath, the monarch’s unexpected cancer diagnosis shocked the nation. Prince William, 41, who had taken loving care of his loved one until then, had to return to the service of the crown. A loss for Kate, but one that four women are happy to try to compensate for.

Catherine is said to have recovered well now, but active supporters are still welcome even in times of weakness. “One reason why Kate is so successful in her royal role is that she has a strong inner circle – and it goes far beyond her parents and siblings,” confirms royal expert Jennie Bond in an interview with “OK!” and explains: “Sometimes the oldest friends who have stuck with you through thick and thin are just the thing. Kate has maintained deep friendships with some of her schoolmates, who obviously knew her before she came to the royal family and who know exactly How you can help her.”

These are the four angels for Catherine, Princess of Wales

Emilia Jardine-Paterson, the matchmaker with a wild heart

She was already in Catherine’s life when Prince William was not yet a factor. Emilia Jardine-Paterson, 42, is the royal’s rock solid – and her personal messenger of love. The interior designer, who has known Kate since she was 13 and studied with her at Marlborough College, is said to have introduced her to the current heir to the throne.

Emilia Jardine-Paterson is considered Catherine, Princess of Wales’ closest friend.

© Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Emilia is part of the family and was even asked by her friend to sponsor her firstborn in 2013 Prince George, 10, to take over. Catherine also relies entirely on her long-time companion’s sense of style. Parts of the renovation work at Kensington Palace and Amner Hall are said to have been in their hands.

The British woman with noble roots was born Emilia d’Erlanger and is the niece of Viscount Exmouth, 76. She was part of the so-called “Glossy Posse” of well-bred teenagers in Gloucestershire – and therefore always had a ticket to William and William’s wild parties his brother Prince Harry, 39, at their father’s estate in Highgrove. She is even said to have spent her summer vacation with Charles and his sons in Greece when she was young.

Her piquant nickname at school: “Emilia de Lingerie”. She was supposedly much more of an “it girl” at college than her best friend Kate and, according to the “Standard,” is said to have hoarded various spirits in honey jars and juice bottles in her closet.

Today Emilia has become a little calmer. She has been married to David Jardine-Paterson, a descendant of wealthy Scottish landowners, since 2010 and now has three children.

Sophie Snuggs, the friend for all occasions

Sophie Snuggs also enjoys Kate’s complete trust, is her reliable companion on various occasions and Princess Charlotte, 8, is a loving godmother. She is no stranger to the royal stage and was even invited by Harry and Duchess Meghan, 42, to their wedding in 2018. She has been seen at Catherine’s side at the big tennis tournament in Wimbledon, on the way to the church service in Sandringham or on a skiing holiday together. She is one of the few people from the Waleses’ environment who is invited to the royal’s rather private birthday every year.

Sophie Snuggs is one of Princess Charlotte’s godmothers.

© Chris Jackson / Picture Alliance

Sophie is without question one of the closest friends of the entire Middleton family. And through her father Robert Carter, she has had a connection to the royal family since she was a child. The Norfolk building contractor is a leader in the elite group of English farming families known as “Turnip Toffs”.

Sophie has a romantic past with Thomas van Straubenzee, 41, one of Prince William’s closest friends. The two were once a couple. The two ex-lovebirds still have points of contact, after all, Thomas also belongs to little Charlotte’s circle of sponsors.

In 2018, Sophie married her current husband Robert Snuggs, a portfolio director at a financial firm. Of course, the heir to the throne and their two eldest children also took a seat at the church wedding in St Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Norfolk.

Catherine and Sophie see each other regularly when the Princess of Wales is at her country estate with her loved ones. The friend lives just a stone’s throw from Amner Hall, where Kate, William and the children retreat, especially during the school holidays.

Lady Laura Meade, the partner on the social stage

Lady Laura Meade, 39, also lives in Norfolk and is a welcome guest of the Waleses. The women know each other through their husbands: Laura’s husband James was a classmate of the king’s son at Eton. When Kate and William walked down the aisle in 2011, he was the groom’s best man and reportedly gave a lively, funny speech at the reception. In return, his royal friend stood by him when he exchanged vows with Laura in 2013.

Kate even attends the church service with Lady Laura Meade – and obviously has a lot of fun doing it.

© Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

By the way, James is also part of Princess Charlotte’s group of godparents, while his wife has taken over the sponsorship of five-year-old Prince Louis. Kate not only loves chatting with her over a cup of tea, but also shines as a duo at particularly fine social events.

Natasha Archer, the trusted stylist

If Catherine can fully count on one person from her circle of friends, it is him Natasha Archer, 36. The wife of Chris Jackson, the official photographer of the British royals, is not only her stylist but also her go-to lady. Shortly after Kate’s operation in January 2024, she was spotted leaving the London clinic where the royal was recovering.

Natasha Archer is not only Catherine’s friend and stylist, but also the wife of court photographer Chris Jackson.

© Dave Bennett/Getty Images

She has played a role in the royal environment for many years. Natasha is said to have been the first person outside the Royal Family to meet Prince George after his birth. No wonder: Natasha took care of Catherine’s great look after all the deliveries before she presented herself with her husband and children to the photographers waiting in front of the Lindo Wing.

Natasha has been employed by the British royal family since 2007. After graduating from King’s College, she started working as William and Harry’s personal assistant. After the elder’s wedding to Kate Middleton, she also worked for the newly appointed Duchess of Cambridge and was promoted to her personal stylist in 2014.

The close professional ties to the palace also brought her personal happiness: While serving the crown, she met her husband Chris. The wedding bells rang in 2017 and the two now have two sons.

Catherine in girlfriend happiness

The close bond with the Princess of Wales has enriched each of her four closest friends in one way or another in the best sense. Conversely, Catherine would probably feel the same way – these days more than ever.

Sources used: ok.co.uk, express.co.uk, standard.co.uk

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