'When everything was falling apart, Carole was the one': ROBERT JOBSON reveals how Prince William leaned on his mother-in-law after Kate's cancer diagnosis

It's no secret that the Prince of Wales is one of the lucky ones when it comes to his in-laws, famously enjoying a good relationship with both of his wife's parents.But now, royal author Robert Jobson has shed light on just how close Prince William, 44, has become to his mother-in-law, Carole Middleton, 71, especially after she was there to support the future King during Kate's cancer diagnosis and treatment.Speaking to Hello! magazine, the journalist claimed that the Princess of Wales' mother would take her son-in-law out to the pub and 'they would sit and talk', offering William a break from the 'brutal' time, as he would later describe it.'[Carole] was there to support William and was there all the time for the grandchildren. She's been as solid as a rock,' Robert said. 'When everything was falling apart and he needed someone to talk to, she was the one. She took him out to the pub and they would sit and talk. She's been a good sounding-board, a wise head.' While much has been written about their easygoing bond, it wasn't until the pair attended Royal Ascot in 2024 that their genuine affection for each other became plain for all to see. When Carole's heel got stuck in the grass during the occasion, it was William who offered a helping hand to his 'second mum' as she steadied herself, before the pair chatted jovially among other guests. The natural moment, caught in a charming set of photographs, was a touching reminder of the close bond that the Prince has forged with the Middletons - and in particular, matriarch Carole. Carole Middleton holds hands with Prince William, Prince of Wales, as they attend day two of Royal Ascot 2024In what was her first public appearance after her daughter Kate's cancer diagnosis, Carole was at Ascot with her husband Michael. William is said to have 'adopted' the Middleton family soon after he started dating Kate in the early 2000s - and Carole is now an indispensable part of the Wales' close-knit family unit. She enjoys making the Prince of Wales his favourite snack of cheese on toast and stocks up on the sea salt chocolates that he likes. Writing in her 2022 book The Palace Papers: Inside the House of Windsor - the Truth and the Turmoil, royal commentator Tina Brown described how William 'adopted' the Middleton family after just a year of dating Kate.One acquaintance told Brown: 'Not only did he fall for her but them. A warm nest with a complete nuclear family and seemingly wonderfully uncomplicated.'The dad played the dad, the mum the county's tiger mum, but he also saw the daughters and James getting along - and wanting to get along - with their parents. What a contrast.'William, who had a choice of palaces to spend weekends, enjoyed nothing more than 'tennis, TV and Carole's creature comforts at the Middleton manse', Brown said.The Prince's love for the whole Middleton family was evidenced by his decision in 2011 to spend Christmas at their mansion in Bucklebury, West Berkshire, rather than with the Royal Family. Carole Middleton, Princes William, Louis, George, and the Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte, Michael Middleton and James Middleton after Kate completed the Three Peaks ChallengeWilliam was such a regular guest at the Middletons' home that he transferred his quadbike there from Highgrove. He also joined the family on their holidays, including to the island of Mustique, which was once a favourite of Princess Margaret.And his closeness to Carole was evidenced by the fact that she joined Kate when she made her first official public appearance at William's passing-out parade at Sandhurst in December 2006.After Kate's cancer diagnosis, it was the continued support of Carole and Michael that allowed William to continue undertaking some royal duties. In April 2024, William was spotted at a Norfolk pub with his mother-in-law. It was another sign of how close they are. During the Easter school holidays that year, Carole stayed with the Wales', according to the Mail's Richard Eden.Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, previously said: 'Carole and Michael are just as much family to William as they are to Catherine.'He loves Carole being around to help as she has been with the children from the beginning and it is easy and reassuring having her invaluable help. Both with the children and keeping Catherine's spirits up. She is a strong woman!' Carole Middleton grabs hold of son-in-law Prince William's hand as she gets her heel stuck in the grass at Royal Ascot in 2024Carole and Michael have also formed a very tight bond with their grandchildren.They were the first members of the family to visit Prince George when he was born in 2013 and have been a constant presence in his life ever since. A month after the young royal's birth, Michael volunteered to take the first picture of his new grandson so that William and Kate would not have to bring in an external photographer.In 2014, Carole joined William and Kate on their tour of Australia and New Zealand so she could help look after George alongside the couple's nanny, Maria Borrallo. The Middletons' support has no doubt meant so much to the Prince of Wales that he may 'rewrite the fabric of the monarchy' to give Kate's parents a greater role, royal experts claimed earlier this year. The Daily Mail's Sarah Vine said: ‘In the 21st century, royalty is about how you behave. It’s not a given. And if the royal family is anything in this day and age, it’s to set an example. 'It’s to uphold certain standards... It means that a door is open to other people becoming royal through their behaviour.’To make Carole and Michael working royals, William would have to 'completely rewrite the entire fabric of the monarchy', said Newsweek's chief royal correspondent, Jack Royston.'But the guy does say he wants change. Anything is possible,' he added on Channel 5's The Middletons: Should They Be Working Royals?.One of the most telling clues about the Middletons' importance in Kate and William's family life came from their daughter's emotional video message about her cancer journey in 2024.Kate announced she had completed chemotherapy treatment in a three-minute-long clip that was unprecedented for the Royal Family. Footage showed William and Kate spending quality time in Norfolk with their three children, and Carole and Michael. Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis could be seen cuddling their grandparents and playing card games around the dinner table, but no other family members appeared in the clip. ‘It just goes to show the influence that that family has on William, and how much he loves and respects them, that he doesn’t want them to be out of the loop in his family unit,’ said Jo Elvin, former host of Daily Mail’s Palace Confidential, in the documentary.