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       Kate, Princess of Wales has kept a number of her close friends from her younger days in her inner circle, with some of them knowing her before she started dating Prince William at St Andrews University.

       As she has risen to prominence in the Firm, these are the people who have stood by her side and supported her over the decades.

       Ever since she became engaged to William, as well as when they were married in 2011 and welcomed their three children into the world, her friends have consistently been there for her.

       Many of them also have aristocratic connections themselves, or attended school with either Kate or William at Marlborough College or Eton respectively.

       Here Express.co.uk takes a look at some of Kate's closest pals and how long their friendship has endured.

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       Kate with close pals Lady Laura Meade and Zoe Warren (Image: Getty)

       Emilia Jardine-Paterson (Image: Getty)

       1. Lady Laura Meade and Zoe Warren

       Lady Laura, previously Laura Marsham before her marriage, is the daughter of Julian Marsham, 8th Earl of Romney and is Prince William's best friends, James Meade.

       Her and James are godmother and godfather to Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte respectively.

       Zoe, meanwhile, is married to Prince Harry's pal Jake Warren, whose father John was the late Queen Elizabeth's racing manager.

       2. Emilia Jardine-Paterson

       Emilia and Kate have been good friends ever since they attended Marlborough together and she went on holiday with the Princess to Ibiza in 2007 during her brief split from William.

       She is also one of Prince George's godmothers and runs her own interior design company, having reportedly helped Kate redecorate Kensington Palace and Anmer Hall.

       Kate Middleton and James Meade (Image: Getty)

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       Kate with Oliver Baker, who is a godfather to George (Image: Getty)

       3. James Meade

       Married to Laura, James attended Eton with William back in 2000 and the couple now live close to the Waleses' Norfolk base at Anmer Hall.

       James is also godfather to Kate and William's daughter, Charlotte, and delivered the best man speech at their 2011 wedding, along with Thomas van Straubenzee.

       4. Oliver Baker

       Oliver was a fellow student at St Andrews with William and Kate and is also a godfather to Prince George.

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       Sophie Carter with Kate and friends in 2008 (Image: Getty)

       Hannah and Robert Carter (Image: Getty)

       5. Sophie Carter

       Sophie is another one of Charlotte's godparents, with the young princess serving as bridesmaid at her wedding to Robert Snuggs in 2018.

       Kate and Sophie have been friends for years, with Sophie pictured at various events with the royals including Sandringham church services, Wimbledon and a skiing holiday in 2016.

       6. Hannah Carter

       Hannah Carter, who attended school with Kate as Hannah Gillingham, married wealthy Norfolk landowner Robert Carter in May 2012.

       She is also a godmother to Louis.

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       Alicia Fox-Pitt also went to Marlborough (Image: Getty)

       Rose Hanbury (Image: Getty)

       7. Alicia Fox-Pitt

       Another school friend from Marlborough, Alicia took part in the Sisterhood rowing team with Kate, saying at the time: "[Kate's] been training with us. All being well she will be in the boat. She is a very gifted sportswoman and we played a lot of sport together at school."

       She married Sebastian Stoddart in the summer of 2013, however the Princess sadly had to miss the wedding as she was due to give birth to Prince George.

       8. Rose Hanbury

       Rose is the wife of David Cholmondeley, the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley and Lord Great Chamberlain, with the family living at Houghton Hall in Norfolk.

       Kate recently attended the famous Houghton Hall dance music festival in the grounds of their home.

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