Kate's mum is of course grandmother to Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, as well as to Pippa's two children - Arthur Matthews and recent arrival Grace Elizabeth Jane Matthews. Carole is credited with helping her eldest daughter raise her family, particularly in the early stages. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had decided to do without a nanny initially, as they sought to be hands-on parents.

       But, when Prince George came along, they found combining their roles as parents and working Royals more challenging than either had anticipated.

       According to Vanity Fair’s royal correspondent, Katie Nicholl, the Duchess spoke to the Queen about the struggles she faced in balancing her charity work with motherhood.

       Ms Nicholl explained in True Royalty’s documentary, Kate Middleton: Heir We Go Again: “Kate was having a conversation with the Queen in which she confided that she had found being with George on her own, and not having a full-time nanny or a maternity nurse, very hard.

       “William and Kate wanted to be hands-on parents, and they did it until September and then they recruited a nanny.”

       Before they hired Teresa Maria Turrion Borallo as a nanny, Carole was the one who stepped into the breach to provide support and relief to the beleaguered new parents.

       "One of the things that allows William and Kate to be so ordinary is the presence of the Middletons in their lives," Ms Nicholl noted.

       READ MORE: Michael Middleton's 'love for walking' is rubbing off on his grandkids

       "Carole turns up to help with bedtime and bath time. She is absolutely indispensable.”

       Kate's mum has gone on record to share just how much she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren.

       She told Good Housekeeping in a recent interview that she likes to get involved with her grandchildren's games.

       She revealed how they "muck around".

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       “I want to run down the hills, climb the trees and go through the tunnel at the playground," she said.

       "As long as I am able to, that’s what I’ll be doing.

       "I cook with them, I muck around dancing, we go on bike rides.”