PRINCE William is “steering Kate Middleton into Diana’s footsteps”, according to former royal butler Paul Burrell.

The former staff member, who worked for the Royal Family for 21 years, added that the Princess of Wales has “never put a foot wrong.”

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Prince William is ‘steering Kate Middleton into Diana’s footsteps’, according to one of her closest former confidantesCredit: The Mega Agency

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Diana passed away when William was 15 years oldCredit: Getty
Speaking to Closer, Paul claimed: “He’s steering Kate into Diana’s footsteps.

“I see the way she dresses and the way she behaves, and if her mother-in-law could say anything, she would tell her that she’s doing an incredible job because she’s never put a foot wrong and the country adores her.”

The former butler claimed that Prince William is “fiercely protective” over Princess Kate, and it “absolutely” comes from losing Diana when he was aged 15.

Paul added: “With William by her side, Kate’s safe because he will take care of her and would never let anyone harm her.”

This follows Princess Diana‘s brother praising Kate’s “incredible strength and poise” after her shock cancer news.

The Princess of Wales, 42, revealed she is undergoing treatment for cancer in an emotional video message in March.

Kate spoke about the “huge shock” after tests identified cancer following her abdominal surgery and the “incredibly tough couple of months” her family have experienced.

Earl Charles Spencer has taken to X, formerly Twitter, to share Kate’s touching video statement posted on the KensingtonRoyal account.

Reposting the footage, he penned: “Incredible strength and poise.”

Kate has remained absent from any official duties following major abdominal surgery in January.

I’ve seen Kate and Wills up close, I don’t believe social media gossip – their marriage seems better than
Her diagnosis is the second cancer shock to hit the royal family in as many months after King Charles revealed he was also undergoing treatment.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement that the King was “so proud” of Kate for “speaking as she did” and remains in the “closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law”.

Kate said the family now needs “time, space and privacy” while she completes her treatment.

Editor-in-Chief of Majesty magazine, Ingrid Seward explained Diana would have “recognised how good Kate is” for William if she had had the chance to meet her.

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Princess Kate recently returned to public duties at Trooping the ColourCredit: Splash

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She has recently been resting at home after revealing her shock cancer diagnosisCredit: PA

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Diana and Kate, both pictured at Ascot, have been known to dress alike – despite never meetingCredit: Getty
Speaking to the Daily Mail alongside several of Diana’s friends and close confidantes, Seward revealed: “I think she would have been very fond of Kate because she does everything right and looks gorgeous.

“And I think she would have recognised how good Kate is for William because William is emotional and difficult.”

The author also claimed Diana would have been a fantastic grandma.

“The Goddess Grandmother, definitely. I think she would have been a little bit wary of Kate’s mother though, she would’ve sized her up straight away,” she added.

Prince William is a pillar of strength for Kate Middleton

EXPERT analysis by author and royal expert, Ingrid Seward.

Steadfast when his family needed him, William has proved himself as a man and future monarch of strength and compassion.

While he might not have been present during Kate’s courageous video address — make no mistake, he has been by her side every step of the way.

William has stepped up with school-run duties and provided a “great source of comfort and reassurance” to his wife.

But he has also been a comforting and reassuring presence for the public.

From leading members of the Royal Family at the Commonwealth Day Service to enjoying cheerful banter with youngsters on a youth centre visit, he hasn’t put a foot wrong.

Even then there were few chinks in his facade — but Kate was clearly on his mind.

“She needs to be sat here to hear this,” he smiled when the discussion turned to the challenges of young families.

But ultimately he is only human.

To have your father and your wife diagnosed with cancer in such quick succession is heart-shattering.

It’s a remarkable insight into the character of this young man that he has been so incredibly brave.

Theirs is a very private turmoil which has been brought into the public arena by the nature of their roles as future King and Queen.

William must feel the weight of enormous responsibility, both personally and for the monarchy, of which he is now the public face.

But he knows his most important role is that of dad and husband.

He will make that his priority.

This is a distinct difference from the ways of the past, where your royal role came before the role of spouse and parent.

Think back to when the Queen was young.

William’s priority is his family

It was a man’s world then — and she was forced to abandon her children in a way that William is determined not to.

William and Kate waited until the school term was over and their children were home before making their public announcement.

They needed to be prepared.

In this, they will have had the wholehearted support of Charles — who knows what it feels like to be brought up by nannies.

William was also acutely aware of the lack of his own father’s presence in his life, especially when things went wrong.

In 1991, he was accidentally hit over the head with a golf club when he was at school and Diana was having lunch in her favourite restaurant San Lorenzo.

The call came through that William had been bashed on the head and they thought he might die so it was very serious.

Both Charles and Diana rushed down to Ludgrove.

William was taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital and then to Great Ormond Street Hospital and Diana went with him.

But ever a man of duty, Charles prioritised his engagements.

William is determined to do things differently.

Diana was tragically killed in a car accident in Paris, in August 1997, when Prince William was 15 and Prince Harry just 12 years old.

In the past, both Harry and Will have spoke out about their doting mum, with Harry revealing in 2010 that whatever he and William do, they wonder what Diana would be doing if she “was with us now”.

Speaking to ITV, the prince said: “Every day, I know I do and I’m sure William does as well, whatever we do, wherever we are and whoever we’re with I particularly always wonder what she’d think, what she’d be doing if she was with us now,” he said.

“If she’d be sitting here having a laugh, whether she’d be in the background sticking her tongue out or whether she’d be playing football with the children.

“That’s what keeps us going every day – that thought of what would she be like if she was around today.”

Prince William has previously spoken about how he would have loved Diana to have met Kate.

“Time makes it easier. I still miss my mother every day — and it’s 20 years after she died,” he said in 2016.

“I would love her to have met Catherine and to have seen the children grow up. It makes me sad that she won’t, that they will never know her,” he told GQ a year later.