Princess Kate may be a future Queen, but behind-closed-doors she is also a mother, a wife, a daughter and a sister. Although she has revealed very little about her own family publicly since marrying Prince William in 2011, the Princess of Wales, 43, is very close to her parents and her siblings, especially her sister Pippa, 41.
As well as growing up together, the sisters also shared a flat in London in their 20s, with Pippa often spotted by Kate’s side when the princess started receiving media attention during the early days of her relationship with Prince William, 43. Pippa was also Kate’s maid of honour, signifying just how strong their bond is.
While they have been close as adults, the sisters were also close as children, having sweet nicknames for one another.
These nicknames were revealed by Kate during one royal engagement when she revealed her and Pippa had named their guinea pigs after their own childhood nicknames.
Speaking about the pets to young pupils at St. Andrew’s School in Pangbourne during an official visit, Kate said in 2012: “There was one called Pip and one called Squeak, because my sister was called Pippa and I was Squeak.”
It is not known whether the sisters still use these nicknames behind closed doors, but it is believed that they are still a close unit, along with their brother James Middleton, who has always praised his family for helping him through his mental health struggles.
The three siblings all live nearby to one another and their parents in Berkshire, and see each other often despite now having children of their own.
Speaking of her close bond with her sister in 2014, Pippa told NBC: “We have a very normal, sisterly relationship. And, you know, we support each other and get each other’s opinions and things.”
James Middleton also told The Mirror that he sees himself, Pippa and Kate as friends as well as siblings. He said: ‘I’m incredibly fortunate to have my two sisters, not just as siblings, but as friends. They’ve seen me at my best and at my lowest, and they’ve always been there when I’ve needed them.”
Although she has spoken very little about her family herself, Princess Kate did once emphasise how close the siblings and their parents are in 2010 during her and Prince William’s engagement interview.
She said at the time: “They’ve been great over the years, helping me with difficult times. We see a lot of each other and they are very, very dear to me.”