Kate Middleton's new home is just minutes away from her 'royal best friend'

As Prince William and Princess Kate prepare for the big move from their humble Adelaide Cottage to Forest Lodge on the Windsor estate, one major royal - who will also be their new neighbour - is set to be on hand for support.

The Princess of Wales will soon live just a 10-minute drive from her royal ‘best friend’ Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, who resides in the nearby residence at Bagshot Park.

Sophie and Kate have long been close friends, with a royal author sharing how the close proximity will grow their bond even stronger as they can lean on each other for support.

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Royal author Sean Smith, whose new book 'Sophie: Saving the Royal Family' has just been released, told GB News that by the Waleses moving closer into the Windsor estate, the two royal women will be able to support each other more easily.

He said: “They remain the best of friends. They have always been two middle-class girls from the country battling their way through the etiquette and traditions of the Royal Family.

“They do not live in each other’s pockets. Kate has three young children to occupy her attention, but the Waleses' new home, Forest Lodge, is little more than a 10-minute drive from Bagshot Park, so Sophie is near to help and support when she can.”

Mr Smith recalled how Sophie and Kate first forged their friendship in the eyes of the public, as they made several royal appearances together.

“We first became properly aware of their friendship when they travelled together down the course at Royal Ascot in June 2017 in an open-topped carriage,” he said. “Sophie was attempting to change places when she fell on top of Kate, reducing both women to a shriek of giggles – it was a truly happy moment.”

The two women truly solidified their friendship during recent trying times, such as the death of Queen Elizabeth, and Kate’s battle with cancer, in which Sophie was always on hand to support the family.

“She was there to support Kate on the balcony of the Foreign Office in Whitehall in November 2024, a couple of months after the Princess announced she had finished chemotherapy treatment,” he explained. “They watched the wreaths being laid on the Cenotaph and, as they were leaving, Sophie placed a comforting hand on her back – it was a truly memorable moment.”

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond previously told the Mirror of the deep friendship between the royal women, as she said: "There seems to be a real friendship between Sophie and Catherine. It's hard to think of them as aunt and niece. They seem much more like sisters or cousins."

"I think Sophie has been able to offer Catherine a huge amount of advice over the years – not just about how to fit into this very elite family, but also about how to juggle a hectic working life with bringing up children. And I suspect that Sophie has been a great comfort to Catherine (and indeed to William) during the past very difficult 18 months.”

Prince William, Princess Kate and their three children - George, Charlotte and Louis, will be making the move to Forest Lodge later this year, with insiders revealing that the royal residence will act as the family’s “forever home”, even when William ascends the throne.