While many men prefer a night out with their mates at the weekend, Prince William was spotted at a Norfolk pub on Saturday – with his mother-in-law.

It’s a reflection of their closeness that William is more likely to be seen with Carole Middleton these days than he is with old pals such as Guy Pelly or the Van Cutsem brothers.

The Prince of Wales always seems happy to have Carole staying with his family and I hear she has been doing just that during the Easter school holidays.

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Michael and Carole Middleton arrive at Westminster Abbey ahead of the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in May last year

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The Middletons arriving for the christening of their grandson Prince Louis in 2018

The Waleses will have been particularly glad to have Carole and her husband, Mike, alongside them at Anmer Hall, their retreat on the Sandringham Estate, as Catherine, 42, undergoes treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer.

Not only can they help look after the children, George, ten, Charlotte, eight, and Louis, five, but they will doubtless provide personal reassurance for their daughter.

William’s ability to carry on undertaking royal duties – while his father is also fighting the disease – is testament to the support the Middletons are providing.

It’s becoming clear, in fact, that Catherine’s parents are just as important to the future of the Monarchy as the Windsors themselves – and, I believe, deserve some formal recognition for their work.

Their active support gave William the confidence to continue with royal engagements on his own before Easter, for example, and he will do so again when the children return to Lambrook School next week.

It is said that Carole helped with the school run in January, while the princess was recovering from what was described as ‘major abdominal surgery’.

All three children are at Lambrook, in Berkshire, which is 15 minutes away from Adelaide Cottage, the family’s Windsor home – and only half an hour’s drive from Bucklebury, where the Middletons live.

William has played his full part as husband and father, of course, as Catherine acknowledged in last month’s moving video message to the nation.

‘I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits,’ she said.

‘Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance, too.’

The princess could just as easily have been speaking about her parents, however.

It was no surprise that, when Catherine was photographed in a car at Windsor a few weeks ago, it was her mother who was driving.

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Doting father William comforts a young George as his in-laws the Middletons look on in 2015

William’s increasing reliance on his in-laws is a natural development.

Part of Catherine’s appeal was always the strength of her family relationships, with her parents and also with siblings, Pippa Matthews, 40, and James Middleton, 36.

The prince, remember, had first met Catherine just a few short years after the death of his own mother, Princess Diana.

As romance blossomed in the years that followed, Carole became a mother figure to him.

William’s ability to carry on undertaking royal duties – while his father is also fighting the disease – is testament to the support the Middletons are providing.

It’s becoming clear, in fact, that Catherine’s parents are just as important to the future of the Monarchy as the Windsors themselves – and, I believe, deserve some formal recognition for their work.

Their active support gave William the confidence to continue with royal engagements on his own before Easter, for example, and he will do so again when the children return to Lambrook School next week.

It is said that Carole helped with the school run in January, while the princess was recovering from what was described as ‘major abdominal surgery’.

All three children are at Lambrook, in Berkshire, which is 15 minutes away from Adelaide Cottage, the family’s Windsor home – and only half an hour’s drive from Bucklebury, where the Middletons live.

William has played his full part as husband and father, of course, as Catherine acknowledged in last month’s moving video message to the nation.

‘I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits,’ she said.

‘Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance, too.’

The princess could just as easily have been speaking about her parents, however.

It was no surprise that, when Catherine was photographed in a car at Windsor a few weeks ago, it was her mother who was driving.

+3
View gallery

Doting father William comforts a young George as his in-laws the Middletons look on in 2015

William’s increasing reliance on his in-laws is a natural development.

Part of Catherine’s appeal was always the strength of her family relationships, with her parents and also with siblings, Pippa Matthews, 40, and James Middleton, 36.

The prince, remember, had first met Catherine just a few short years after the death of his own mother, Princess Diana.

As romance blossomed in the years that followed, Carole became a mother figure to him.

I still recall the shocked reaction when it was disclosed that William would spend Christmas 2011, the first after their wedding, at the home of the Middletons rather than at Sandringham with the Royal Family.

Women who had previously married into the Windsors, such as Sophie Rhys-Jones, now the Duchess of Edinburgh, had been expected to prioritise the royals at all times.

It would have been unthinkable for Sophie, or Sarah, Duchess of York, to spend Christmas Day with their own parents.

But the Middletons were different – and remain so, today.

As Catherine takes time out to overcome her health problems, the magnitude of the role they play has never been so clear.

And that’s why I believe it’s time that Carole and Michael – she a former air hostess and he a one-time flight dispatcher – should be given titles reflecting their importance.

As their friend, the tycoon Sir John Madejski, said to me a full decade ago: ‘They should be the Earl and Countess of Bucklebury, or something.

‘They deserve it. They are great people and really good role models.’

Who could disagree with that?