Kate Middleton has ‘given William everything he didn’t have growing up but Di’s influence is clear’

Kate Middleton has ‘given Prince William everything he didn’t have growing up but Princess Diana’s influence on him is clear,’ a royal expert has claimed. 

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond said the Prince of Wales’ relationship with Kate is ‘founded on friendship, passion and mutual respect’.

Speaking to Ok! magazine, the expert said that the father-of-three has found a second family in Michael and Carole Middleton – who treat the royal like one of their own.

Jennie claimed: ‘[William] can relax with them, trust them, and be himself in a way he can do with only a very few others.’

Since Kate Middleton and Prince William’s wedding in 2011, Carole and Michael have been welcomed into the Royal Family’s fold – and were among the guests who were invited to King Charles and Queen Camilla’s Coronation last month.

What’s more, the expert went on to highlight how the women in William’s life have ‘helped make him the man he is’. 

The expert explained: ‘His mother’s influence is still very much evidence in the relaxed and informal way he interacts with people, and in his determination to help people less well off than himself, in particular, the homeless.’

Earlier this month,  Prince William announced his new five-year initiative called Homewards – which aims to eradicate rough sleeping in the UK.

The future king has become increasingly passionate about the issue of homeless in the UK – having been first taken to visit the charity The Passage by his late mother Princess Diana.

What’s more, Jennie added that Prince William has now known his wife Kate for 20 years – which is longer than Diana was in his life.

The expert said William has ‘deep love and respect’ for Kate and is ‘proud’ of how she is flourishing in her new role as the Princess of Wales – having launched her Shaping Us campaign earlier this year.

Continuing her discussion of the most important women in William’s life, Jennie also noted how the royal was especially close to his late grandmother the Queen. 

Following her death at the age of 96 last September, the royal released an emotional statement highlighting how the former monarch was by his side during his ‘happiest moments’ and the ‘saddest days of his life’.

Pictured: Princess Diana pictured with her baby son Prince William at her Kensington Palace home in 1982

Pictured: Carole and Michael Middleton arriving at King Charles and Queen Camilla’s Coronation with their two younger children Pippa and James last month

In June 2021, royal expert Angela Levin said Carole Middleton has provided a ‘real sense of normality amid any chaos’ for the Prince of Wales.

Speaking to The Sun, Angela claimed: ‘William adored Diana and was drawn to her magnetic charm, but she was relentlessly demanding on him as a young child, describing him as her “closest confidant” and talking about her lovers, when it’s a mother’s duty to care for her son, not the other way round.

‘[Carole] made him feel secure, comfortable and protected and he didn’t have to worry about what he said or be responsible for her emotions.’

The author added that the prince learnt through Kate’s household how a ‘loving and supportive family works’.

Pictured: Princess Diana pictured hugging a member of the public  as she leaves Cook County hospital in Chicago in 1996

In Belfast last  Tuesday morning, Prince William was embraced by an enthusiastic well-wisher who flung her arms around the 41-year-old royal, telling him: ‘It’s lovely to see you’

Another source told the publication that Prince William views his mother-in-law as his ‘second mum’ in the absence of Princess Diana. 

Royal expert Phil Dampier said Carole and Michael have ‘provided a middle class down-to-earth haven for him’, and ‘helped to keep him grounded’.

He added that this may have been something Prince Harry had missed out on ‘because of the splintered nature’ of Meghan’s parents.

Earlier this month, the Prince of Wales charmed royal fans when he was seen hugging members of the public during an engagement in Belfast- something his late mother would often do while on tours.

On top of this, TikTok users dubbed William ‘his mother’s son’ when footage of him cringing over his Coronation concert dance moves emerged last month.