Being close to your in-laws is every married person's goal, and Prince William gets on remarkably well with the Middletons. After 15 happy years of marriage to Princess Catherine, his relationship with both his wife and her family has only grown stronger.
The second family in question includes Catherine's mother, Carole Middleton, and her father, Michael Middleton, who have been married for an impressive 46 years following their 1980 nuptials. Catherine also has two siblings called Pippa and James Middleton, who have equally got on well with William over the years.
From skiing trips to group holidays in Mustique, Prince William has always been welcomed and included by his second family. The Prince is said to have asked his grandmother, the late Queen, to invite his wife's family to the carriage parade at Ascot and the Thames Boat Pageant for the monarch's Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
The Waleses have been known to take their three children to visit Catherine's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, in Bucklebury, with George, Charlotte and Louis loving the company of their grandparents.
Let's take a look back at some of William's fondest moments with his in-laws...
Pippa Middleton watching Prince William's polo matches
© Getty ImagesWilliam and Catherine dated for seven years before tying the knot at Westminster Abbey in April 2011. During their early years, Catherine's sister Pippa Middleton would often join Catherine to watch William play in charity polo matches, and at one time even take part in an old boys' match at Eton College.
Since Catherine and Pippa are both very close, the Prince has also matched this bond. In 2014, Pippa talked on the Today show about how tight-knit she is with her older sister and Catherine's husband, saying: "We're very close. And, you know, we support each other and get each other's opinions and things."
William is also said to have offered Pippa "guidance and support" after she became linked to the royal family, to learn how to adjust to the Firm's protocol.
Prince William and James Middleton's shared humour
© WireImageAt Pippa's wedding to James Matthews in 2017, Prince William was snapped chatting and laughing with Catherine's younger brother, James Middleton.
Prince William has always been close with James but their relationship was seen to be solidified in 2019 following James' op-ed in the Daily Mail where he opened up about his battle with depression three years prior.
"I feel compelled to talk about it openly because this is precisely what my brother-in-law Prince William, my sister Catherine and Prince Harry are advocating through their mental health charity Heads Together," he wrote. "I want to speak out, and they are my motivation for doing so."
In 2020, James gifted the royal couple an eight-month-old puppy, shortly before their English Cocker-Spaniel Lupo passed away in November.
Prince William spending Christmas with the Middletons
© Getty ImagesAlthough they usually spend Christmas with the royal family at Sandringham, William and Catherine have enjoyed occasional Christmases with the Middletons in Berkshire.
Before their marriage, the Prince promised Catherine that she would not have to be separated from her family over the holidays and it seems William has kept that promise. Here the Waleses are pictured attending church on Christmas Day with William's in-laws.
Prince William recreating Michael Middleton's famous photo
© Getty ImagesIn 2018, Prince William toured for five days around the Middle East, including the ancient city of Jerash. His wife, Catherine, had visited the ruins with her father Michael and sister Pippa in the 1980s when they lived in Jordan.
Coming across an old photograph of the trio placed near the exact same rock Catherine had played on decades earlier, William laughed, saying: "Michael's looking very smart in his flip-flops."
The royal then tried to recreate the photo, and was photographed in the same spot, before commenting: "Need to come back with the family for this shot."
Prince William's wedding joke to Michael Middleton
© Getty ImagesAnother memorable moment between the pair was when Michael was walking the beautiful royal bride down the aisle, and Prince William joked to his father-in-law: "Just a quiet family wedding, then."
Before proposing to his girlfriend in Kenya in 2010, William didn't ask Michael for his blessing.
In a TV interview after their engagement was announced, he said to Tom Bradby: "Well, I was torn between asking Kate's dad first and then the realisation that he might actually say 'no' dawned upon me."
But William had seemingly nothing to worry about; after Catherine's parents heard the news, they were elated. 15 years on since marrying Catherine, William's relationship with his parents-in-law is stronger than ever.
Prince William and the Middletons shared support for Catherine
© InstagramBack in June 2026, Catherine posted a photo on the Prince and Princess of Wales's Instagram account showing she had completed the Three Peaks Challenge, supported by her husband and family. At the completion of the challenge in Wales, the Princess was pictured alongside William, George, Charlotte, Louis, her parents, and her brother. The united image demonstrated how deeply they all care for Catherine and showed their strength as a close family unit coming together to support her.
