How Kate Middleton knows she can trust brother James completely as she prepares for future role in Royal Family
He's incredibly close to the Princess of Wales and clearly respects her desire for privacy despite her public role
James Middleton has left his sister the Princess of Wales in no doubt about his trustworthiness and the signs are subtle but consistent. Unlike Kate, James is a free agent with his own personal Instagram account and whilst he does share family pictures, he's very careful about it.
He'll happily post sweet snaps of his wife Alizée and their son Inigo (without showing his face), but there are almost no photos of Kate - or their sister Pippa. James didn't share a photo for Pippa's birthday on 6th September or for Kate's birthday in January.
On the rare occasions he does post the Princess on his page, it's usually only after she's shared something similar herself like when she completed the National Three Peaks Challenge in June.
Kate undertook this challenge to raise money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and awareness of the importance of holistic healthcare. She was clearly happy for pictures to be shared if it would help towards either of these goals, so James posted several of the family congratulating her after finishing.
When the Princess first made her cancer diagnosis public in 2021, James also supported her publicly by sharing a throwback picture of the two of them with the caption, "Over the years, we have climbed many mountains together. As a family, we will climb this one with you too".
Once again, he followed her lead in sharing something and was incredibly respectful and minimal with what he said. There were no new details for people to analyse, just a special tribute to his big sister and the commitment to being there for her.
Other than these posts, the businessman has occasionally shared a snap of Carole Middleton for Mother's Day but that's about it. To me, it's a clear sign of how James is mindful of Kate - and their wider family's - privacy. Whilst she probably really appreciates this now, his discretion will be even more important when she's Queen.
Knowing who to trust is something the royals have to carefully consider and the Princess's brother has proved to her and the rest of the Royal Family that he isn't an over-sharer. The Middletons have kept some of William and Kate's biggest milestones entirely secret until they were ready to share - from the couple's engagement to the Princess's pregnancies.
Royal author Russell Myers claimed in William & Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story that Kate's family had "become a constant presence" in their lives and were particularly "crucial" when the kids were young. According to him, the Prince of Wales loved their sense of normality.
"William appreciated their involvement beyond measure, enjoying their company and the normalcy of the environment, whatever the circumstance," he claimed, adding that William apparently told an aide his in-laws gave them "more room to breathe".
"Michael and Carole enjoyed visiting the couple in Norfolk and would often stay for weekends, providing much-needed extra support for the young family," Myers continued.
Knowing that Michael, Carole, James and Pippa can be relied upon in a world where scrutiny and speculation follow the royals everywhere is no small thing for Kate and William. Whilst they have public-facing roles as Prince and Princess of Wales, their family helps the couple keep their personal lives blissfully private.
