PRINCE William’s mother-in-law has become his “second-mum” who “protects” the royal as the pair enjoyed a “pub lunch”.

The heir to the throne has relied on Carole Middleton, 69, at important times during his 13-year marriage to wife Kate, including when their kids were born.

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Carole Middleton has made Prince William feel secure, comfortable and protectedCredit: Getty

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The Prince and Princess of Wales are spending time in Norfolk while Kate recovers from cancerCredit: Splash

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Carole is ‘very much a power behind the throne’ and her ‘influence is immense’Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

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William was reportedly seen popping into a pub in Norfolk with Carole at the weekendCredit: Getty – Pool
The Prince of Wales was allegedly seen popping into a pub in Norfolk with Carole, 69, at the weekend during the family’s Easter break at Anmer Hall.

The appearance comes as Princess Kate, 42, has taken a break from royal duties following planned abdominal surgery in January, and her announcement that cancer had been found.

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said last month that William is under enormous pressure and has the “weight of the world on his shoulders”.

Insiders believe Carole, a multi-millionaire businesswoman, has acted as a “second mum” to William bringing “a real sense of normality amid any chaos”.

Kate and Wills have also faced unfair scrutiny and speculation from the public following a photoshopped picture and Kate’s then-unexplained absence from public life.

Richard Eden wrote in the Daily Mail: “I’m told he popped into a pub in North Norfolk at the weekend with his mother-in-law, who is said to have been staying with the Prince and Princess of Wales for Easter.

“A patron tells me: ‘It was all very low-key, with no great fanfare. He just walked in and through the pub. He appeared to be with Carole Middleton.’

“There was no sign of Catherine, who is being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer.”

Despite playing a role largely behind the scenes, Carole has spoken about how family comes first for her.

Carole, who has seven grandchildren, previously told The Telegraph that her “family are paramount” and that they “come first”.

Princess Kate, has cancer and says she’s been having chemo treatment but is now ‘getting stronger’ in video message
In an interview Good Housekeeping, she said she still feels young and wants to “run down the hills, climb the trees and go through the tunnel at the playground”.

She said: “As long as I am able to, that’s what I’ll be doing.

“I cook with them, I muck around dancing, we go on bike rides.”

Royal expert Phil Dampier previously told Fabulous: “Prince George goes out a lot with his grandmother Carole.

“They go to the beach there and they are very close.

“Carole has taken the kids to Party Pieces and they played shopkeeper there with all the stock.”

While William was just 15 when his mother Diana died, Carole has been able to nearly become the mother he lost.

Angela Levin, a royal biographer, told The Sun in 2021 that she believes that William’s “dysfunctional family background” gave him “barely a clue of what a normal family life was like”.

She said: “Carole relieved William of such burdens by accepting him for who he was rather than what he was.

“She made him feel secure, comfortable and protected and he didn’t have to worry about what he said or be responsible for her emotions.”

She added: “Children of broken homes, especially if the parental break up was unpleasant, often don’t know how a good relationship works.

“William learnt through the Middletons how a loving and supportive family works.

“It has been the bedrock of making Kate loving, calm and confident.  Harry hasn’t had that parental opportunity.

“His background has just been of bitter fighting and incompatibility.

“Both he and Meghan come from very damaged backgrounds and must carry with them some of the negativity.

“It must be hard for them to help each other and lack experience in how stable, strong, understanding relationships work.”

Meanwhile, Kate’s kids all have their own rooms in Bucklebury Manor in West Berkshire, where Carole lives with her husband Michael.

The Wales family are spending the kids’ Easter holiday in Norfolk before they go back to the £7,000-a-term Lambrook School in Berkshire.

Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, aren’t due to return back to school until April 17.

Along with their family dog, black cocker spaniel Orla, George, Charlotte and Louis have a host of animals at Anmer Hall.

It comes after William and George cheered on Aston Villa’s opening goal in their first public appearance since Kate shared her cancer diagnosis.

The father and son duo were seen celebrating Unai Emery’s side after Ollie Watkins scored the first goal in their clash against Lille at Villa Park.

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Kate’s parents are often invited to royal eventsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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It comes after William and George cheered on Aston Villa’s opening goal