Growing up, the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, had a strong bond with her family.

Her parents, Carol and Michael Middleton, were hands-on and devoted parents to Kate and her siblings, Pippa and James.

Together, they enjoyed a wonderful home life and cherished family vacations.

When Kate began dating her university friend, Prince William, she wasted no time introducing him to her loved ones.

Fortunately, the connection was instant, and the Middletons became a tremendous source of support for the future king.

William, in turn, deeply appreciates the sense of normalcy that spending time with Kate’s family brings.

According to royal expert Katie Nicholl, the Middletons serve as Kate and William’s anchor amidst any chaos they may face.

For William, being with the Middletons is an escape from the demands of his royal duties.

He has always cherished his relationship with Carol and Michael, and he made it a priority for the royal family to treat them with kindness and respect.

Thankfully, the Queen embraced them wholeheartedly, welcoming them into the fold.

During the royal wedding in 2011, Pippa Middleton, Kate’s sister, stood by her side as the maid of honor.

Pippa gracefully carried Kate’s train as she made her way down the aisle of Westminster Abbey.

The rest of the Middleton family also played significant roles in the wedding, appearing in the official photographs and joining the royals on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to wave to well-wishers.

However, there was a slight hiccup when Carol Middleton first met the Queen.

According to Richard Kay of the Daily Mail, the purpose of the meeting was to make the Middletons feel more at ease.

Understandably, this must have been an intimidating moment for Carol, considering her great-great-grandfather’s background as a coal miner in Durham.

Royal author Tom Quinn reveals that Carol accidentally said, “pleased to meet you,” instead of the expected “how do you do?”

In the heat of the moment, such slips of etiquette can happen, but overall, the meeting was deemed a success.

Jenny Bond, a former BBC royal correspondent, shares that the lunch at Windsor Castle following the meeting went exceptionally well.