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KATE'S GREAT GUY
Kate Middleton has a ‘strong shoulder to cry on’ & relies on him ‘in times of strife’ – & it’s not Prince William
We shared the pivotal - and poignant - role the Princess' confidant had at her wedding
PRINCESS Kate has been through a lot this year with her recent health struggles, but she has a “strong shoulder to cry on” close by, according to one expert.
The Princess of Wales, 42, is said to rely heavily on brother James Middleton - who celebrates his 37th birthday today - and turns to him in “times of strife”.
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Businessman James, the youngest child of Carole and Michael Middleton, was the only member of Kate’s immediate family to publicly pay tribute to his sister after her cancer announcement.
In an Instagram post, he gushed: "Over the years, we have climbed many mountains together. As a family, we will climb this one with you too."
According to royal biographer Claudia Joseph, Kate has always been able to rely on her younger brother.
She told Fabulous: “The Middleton family has always been an extremely close-knit clan and they always turn to each other for support both in times of celebration and in strife.
READ MORE KATE MIDDLETON
“They had an idyllic childhood, playing sports together, baking cakes and sliding down the stairs on a tray.
“Since the Wales’s moved to Adelaide Cottage, in Windsor Home Park, they have become even closer.”
Claudia, author of Kate: The Making of a Princess, said Kate often turns to her family - including sister Pippa, 40 - during pivotal moments.
She continued: “Certainly, it was to the sanctuary of their childhood home that Kate fled when she broke up with William in 2007.
Most read in Fabulous
“Both her siblings were at home that weekend – it was James’s 20th birthday on the Sunday – and the family rallied around.
"James then drove Kate back to London to pick up a tennis racquet from her flat and paperwork from her office before she retreated to her parents’ home.”
The secret meaning behind the daffodils brave Princess Kate surrounded herself with when she revealed her cancer
When James celebrated his 21st birthday in 2008, when William and Kate had reunited, the entire Middleton clan went out to celebrate - first at futuristic Pan-Asian restaurant Cocoon before ending the night at the Royals’ favourite nightclub Boujis.
James also had a pivotal role in Kate and William’s fairytale royal wedding, which was watched by millions over the globe on April 29, 2011.
The Middleton family has always been an extremely close-knit clan and they always turn to each other for support both in times of celebration and in strife
Claudia Joseph
The royal biographer shared: “I think the best example of their relationship was during the Royal wedding.
“While Pippa was a bridesmaid, James, who is dyslexic, gave a reading to a global audience of two billion.
“He was so determined to do her proud that he retyped it phonetically in order to learn it.
They had an idyllic childhood, playing sports together, baking cakes and sliding down the stairs on a tray
Claudia Joseph
James said at the time: “In that way, I became confident in it, and then I felt I was perfectly capable of doing it.”
"At the end of the day, whether it was in a little church or Westminster Abbey didn't matter, it was me, as a brother, doing a reading for my sister and her husband at their wedding and I wanted to do it right."
What does James Middleton do for work?
Businessman James is the proud owner of novelty marshmallow company, Boomf.
He also runs the Cake Kit Company, which delivers bespoke sweet treats and baking kits for special occasions.
Impressively, his award-winning business has created cakes for fashion giants Jigsaw and Ralph Lauren.
James has also registered three more companies - Nice Cakes, Nice Wine and Nice Group London.
'FOREVER GRATEFUL'
James - who is dad to six-month-old son Inigo with his French wife Alizée - has been vocal about how Kate and Pippa supported him during his battle with depression after the death of his cocker spaniel Ella, and said they even attended some of his therapy sessions.
At the end of the day, whether it was in a little church or Westminster Abbey didn't matter, it was me, as a brother, doing a reading for my sister and her husband at their wedding and I wanted to do it right
James Middleton
He said at the time: “They've always been there during difficult times, and they were at my side during the hardest of times as well.
He wrote at the time: "For that, I am forever grateful.”
KATE'S HEALTH BATTLE
Kate has remained absent from any official duties following major abdominal surgery in January and is not expected to return until after Easter.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Her diagnosis is the second cancer shock to hit the royal family in as many months after King Charles revealed he was also undergoing treatment.
They've always been there during difficult times, and they were at my side during the hardest of times as well
James Middleton
Kate said the family now needs “time, space and privacy” while she completes her treatment.
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