Throughout Kate Middleton’s difficult 2024 as she fights cancer she has been able to rely on her sister Pippa for support, as the pair have shared a special bond since childhood
This year has been a challenge for Kate Middleton, but by her side has been sister Pippa – with whom she shares a special bond.
Born just 21 months apart, the sisters grew up together in Bucklebury, Berkshire, where they enjoyed exercising and playing sports together, before both attended top boarding school, Marlborough College. At school they enjoyed playing tennis and athletics together and after graduating from university, Kate lived with Pippa in a £1.88million apartment in London’s Chelsea close to King’s Road in their 20s.
The pair were often spotted on nights out together at popular London hotspots, including Mahiki and Boujis. After William proposed to Kate she wasted no time in asking her sister to be her maid of honour in 2011. At the time, a source told MailOnline: “It’s all Kate, Kate, Kate for the moment, because [Pippa is] her closest ally and, genuinely, they are best friends. “But even if they weren’t, Kate would struggle to trust anyone who wasn’t family.”
Later, Kate returned the favour when Pippa tied the knot with James Matthews. Their bond was further strengthened when both entered motherhood and today Pippa lives a stone’s throw away from the Princess’ home in Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor Estate with her husband and children, Arthur, Grace and Rose.
An insider told express.co.uk : “They were already genuinely best friends but this gruelling year has seen them grow even closer. Pippa has been something of an angel and backbone for Catherine. She’s there at the drop of a hat, helping to pick up the slack on physical tasks when needed. But it’s the emotional support she provides that is invaluable to Catherine. Like the bond shared between the Queen and Princess Margaret, they are genuinely best friends who understand each other and who Catherine can trust implicitly.”
In a previous interview with NBC, Pippa opened up about her relationship with her big sister, saying: “I mean, obviously she has pressures she’s taken on and things. But we spend a lot of time together. We still do a lot together as a family. We have a very normal, sisterly relationship. We’re very close. And, you know, we support each other and get each other’s opinions and things.”
The pair were together just days ago as the Princess of Wales made a rare public appearance at the Wimbledon men’s final between eventual winner Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, with Pippa by her side. Princess Charlotte also joined the sisters in the Royal Box. Hollywood stars Tom Cruise, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Julia Roberts were among the other celebrities attending Sunday’s final.
A source told the Times: “The three siblings are incredibly tight … Pippa not only as a sister but as a best friend she can confide in. They are extremely loyal to one another.” The third sibling is, of course, their brother James who is just as loyal to his sisters. In the hours after the Princess of Wales made the announcement about her cancer diagnosis, James wrote: “Over the years, we have climbed many mountains together. As a family, we will climb this one with you too.”
