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Privacy NoticeThe Princess of Wales shares an incredibly close bond with her younger sister, Pippa Middleton. The pair are practically inseparable as they are just 21 months apart in age. Their individual journeys into motherhood have also mirrored one another, with both Kate and Pippa having three children each – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis for Kate and Arthur, Grace, and Rose for Pippa. The Middletons are renowned for their close-knit nature, with Carole and Michael Middleton being hugely involved grandparents. Similarly, Pippa and her husband James Matthews have shown incredible support towards the Princess through thick and thin, especially after her troubling health news involving abdominal surgery and a cancer diagnosis.

Kate and sister Pippa are very close
(Image: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

There’s a cute connection within the younger generation too – both Charlotte and Grace share the middle name Elizabeth, a family tradition tracing back to Carole and Kate, who carry the same charming middle name. A nod to their lineage, the Princess of Wales was born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton and her mum, Carole Elizabeth Middleton, nee Goldsmith. Of course, for Charlotte, the name Elizabeth is also in honour of her paternal great-grandmother, the late Queen. Her second middle name, Diana, is a touching nod to William’s late mother. This isn’t Charlotte’s only connection to her aunt, of course, as Pippa’s middle name is Charlotte. Grace’s full name, meanwhile, is Grace Elizabeth Jane Matthews – with Jane chosen as a nod to James’s mother and Pippa’s mother-in-law, Jane Matthews.

Charlotte was also named after her aunt, Pippa

According to the Times, Kate and Pippa jetted off for a skiing holiday together in Meribel last year, complete with their husbands and their children. “They managed to keep their holiday secret for a few days of fun with their husbands and young children: cosy apres-ski lunches together hidden in the snowy forest,” the publication reported. Royal expert Jennie Bond previously spoke to OK! about Kate and Pippa, and reflected on their relationship behind closed doors. “They talk about everything and I very much doubt that Catherine expects her sister to stand on ceremony when they are together,” Jennie said. “In public, of course, Pippa pays due respect to the future Queen, but I suspect they probably both find that sort of protocol quite funny.”

Kate and Pippa have a great deal in common
(Image: 2024 Karwai Tang)

Jennie suggested that the relationship between Kate and her sister has remained “balanced” due to their similar lifestyles and living arrangements. She explained: “The fact that [Pippa] has married an extremely wealthy man, James Matthews, means that the relationship between the two sisters has remained quite a balanced one. Pippa and James have a riverside mansion in Berkshire, less than an hour’s drive from Windsor and half an hour from their parents”. She also praised Pippa for how she has “kept her feet on the ground” despite the intense public scrutiny she faced after being her sister’s bridesmaid. Jennie added that Pippa is “by all accounts, a delightful young woman”.Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnJames MatthewsKate MiddletonPippa MiddletonPrince GeorgePrince LouisPrince WilliamPrincess CharlotteRoyal FamilyMichael MiddletonCarole Middleton