Kate Middleton and Sophie have grown closer over this difficult year (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Sign up to our free email newsletter to receive the latest breaking news and daily roundups More Newsletters Subscribe Please enter a valid email Something went wrong, please try again later. More Newsletters We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you.

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More info × Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice Through a difficult year, in which she has fought a private battle with cancer while trying to balance the demands of a young family with expectations of her role within the Royal Family, Kate Middleton has seen her confidence take a knock. One royal insider has revealed how Kate has been supported by her so-called "older sister" Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, through this very tr.