Princess Kate leaning on William’s relative who ‘knows what it’s like’ to have surgery

The Princess of Wales is said to be doing well in her recovery, following her pre-planned abdominal surgery last month, but there is one close Royal Family member who will be aiding Princess Kate’s recovery because of her own previous traumatic experience with surgery – Duchess Sophie.

The Duchess of Edinburgh experienced a “near fatal” emergency during the birth of her daughter, and knows what it is like to have surgery, claims a former BBC royal correspondent.

Jennie Bond told OK! Magazine: “Sophie will have been calling to see if she can help out. After all, she went through a near fatal emergency during the birth of her daughter Lady Louise and also suffered an ectopic pregnancy, so she knows exactly what it’s like to have major surgery and come through it.”

Back in 2001, Sophie and Prince Edward had a worrying experience during Sophie’s first pregnancy which could have been fatal. Duchess Sophie was 37 at the time and had a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy and had to be rushed to hospital to receive emergency surgery.

While Sophie was recovering in hospital Prince Edward opened up about the deeply “traumatic” experience.

Speaking to reporters gathered outside the hospital Edward said: “It’s obviously a very traumatic time and my wife has … It’s quite the most painful thing that anyone can undergo.”

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh live with their children Lady Louise Windsor, 20, and James, Earl of Wessex, 16, in Bagshot Park, Surrey. However, most of the time Lady Louise is away studying English at the University of St Andrews.

The sprawling 120-room residence is reportedly valued at £30mn and is Grade II listed. The family lives close to the Prince and Princess of Wales’ royal residence, Adelaide Cottage.

As well as her adoring family, Princess Kate is said to have four very close friends rallying around to offer support during her recovery – Emilia Jardine Paterson, Sophie Snuggs, Lady Laura Meade, and Natasha Archer.

Prince William took a break from royal duties last month to focus on their three children, as well as to make sure his wife was comfortably “settled” once she returned home on January 29.

The Prince of Wales who has been the president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts since 2010, has started to attend royal engagements again, and recently went to the glitzy BAFTAs on Sunday, February 18 wearing a blue velvet tuxedo.

He was not joined by Princess Kate who underwent surgery on January 16 at the London Clinic. She recently made the journey up to Norfolk from Windsor during her children’s half-term school holiday, and she has since gone back home to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor.

Buckingham Palace has said the princess will likely not return to her public duties until after Easter, which falls on March 31 this year.