CARING FOR KATE
Inside Kate Middleton’s dependable A-team supporting the princess – from royal besties to college pals
Here's our guide to Kate's inner circle
KATE Middleton is being supported by a dependable A-team - from royal besties to college pals.
The Princess of Wales, 42, is recovering in hospital from planned abdominal surgery.
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She is expected to stay at the private London Clinic for up to 14 days before going home to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor.
Kate's husband Prince William, 41, visited her at the clinic this afternoon.
She will likely be counting on the support of her close pals, ranging from old school friends to palace insiders.
Here's a guide to the key figures in the princess's inner circle.
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Pippa Matthews
Kate's younger sister Pippa was maid of honour at her wedding to Prince William in 2011 - and organised Kate's hen do.
Big sister Kate returned the favour as maid of honour at Pippa's wedding to hedge fund boss James Matthews in 2018.
Pippa told the Today show: "We're very close. And, you know, we support each other and get each other's opinions and things."
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Hannah Carter
Hannah Carter was on Kate's hockey team at Marlborough College, a boarding school in Wiltshire.
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Kate and William attended Hannah's wedding to East Anglia landowner Robert Carter in 2012.
Hannah was also named godmother to Kate's son Prince Louis in 2018.
She and Robert run the RG Carter construction firm in Norfolk.
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Sophie Snuggs
Hannah's sister-in-law Sophie Snuggs is another of Kate's closest pals.
Kate, Sophie and Hannah were spotted together at Wimbledon in 2008.
A member of the "Turnip Toffs" set, Sophie joined Kate and William on a skiing holiday in 2018.
She is Princess Charlotte's godmother and once joined the royals at a Sandringham church service.
Sophie dated Prince William's pal Thomas van Straubenzee before marrying Robert Snuggs.
Prince George was a pageboy and Princess Charlotte a bridesmaid at the couple's wedding.
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Emilia Jardine-Paterson
Another of Kate's school pals, Emilia Jardine-Paterson was dubbed Marlborough College's "It Girl".
Emilia was part of the teenage "Glossy Posse" who hung out with Prince William and Prince Harry at King Charles's Highgrove home in Gloucestershire.
The niece of Viscount Exmouth, she is thought to have introduced Kate to William.
Interior designer Emilia took Kate on a girls' trip to Ibiza after she and William briefly broke up in 2007.
The mum-of-three is married to David Jardine-Paterson, who went to Eton with William.
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Lady Laura Meade
Kate met Lady Laura Meade through William, who is pals with Laura's husband James.
Laura is one of Prince Louis's godmothers, and James is godfather to Princess Charlotte.
Prince William was an usher at James and Laura's wedding, before James gave a speech at his and Kate's own reception.
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Trini Foyle
Trini Foyle is another of Kate’s close friends from school, along with Emilia and Hannah.
She ended up studying politics at Edinburgh University and once worked as an assistant in the office of Jeremy Hunt.
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Trini, who is married to husband Ted Foyle, has previously taken her son Alexander on a play date with Prince George in Kensington Gardens.
She was by her friend's side when Kate and William split briefly during their courtship - and attended the christenings of all of the couple's children.
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