Forming a close bond with a partner's siblings or in-laws is no mean feat.
However, it appears Kate Middleton and Prince Harry have managed to strike the perfect balance between friendship and family, if the Duchess of Cambridge's latest comments about her brother-in-law are anything to go by.
Yesterday, the mother-of-two met with runners taking part in the 2017 London Marathon at Kensington Palace, and spoke to Jamie Maloy, headteacher of Viking Primary School in west London, about her husband's brother.
According the Daily Mail, the teacher told the Duchess: 'What I love is your brother-in-law talking the other day, because that's just ignited it,' referring to Harry's recent admission he sought counseling 20 years after the death of his mother, Princess Diana.
'Everyone's talking about mental health now because someone who is so famous and so much in the public eye has actually turned around and said something hit me hard – the death of a close loved one. And I think people have gone 'good on you, because you could have never mentioned that',' the teacher added.
Hearing that Harry was 'a real hero to a lot of people', Kate replied: 'Absolutely. He's been brilliant.'
During Harry's interview with Telegraph journalist, Bryony Gordon, he admitted: 'I have probably been very close to a complete breakdown on numerous occasions when all sorts of grief and all sorts of lies and misconceptions and everything are coming to you from every angle.'
Kate's revelation about her brother-in-law comes amid news Prince Harry's girlfriend, Meghan Markle, is granted special access to Kensington Palace when visiting her beau and is 'waved right through' security at the gates of his home.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Kate Middleton and Prince William – could you really get a better foursome?
Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
