Laura Fellowes
The
Hon Laura Fellowes, 34, is William's cousin and the daughter of
Princess Diana's older sister, Lady Jane Fellowes. Laura's father Baron
Fellowes was private secretary to the Queen throughout the notoriously
tricky 1990s.
Based
in Norfolk, she is part of the so-called 'Turnip Toffs' country set who
are friendly with William and Kate, who have been living in their
Sandringham country home Anmer Hall since Charlotte's birth.
Laura
married City banking figure Nick Pettman at Snettisham, in Norfolk, in
2009, with William and Kate among the guests - an appearance which
prompted speculation the pair's engagement was imminent. The couple now
have two sons.
As
a child, Laura was famously pictured as a bridesmaid with William when
he was spotted misbehaving - sticking his tongue out and yawning - as a
pageboy at the Duke and Duchess of York's wedding.
Thomas van Straubenzee
Chartered
surveyor, Thomas van Straubenzee, 33, has known William since both were
pupils at Ludgrove prep school in Berkshire, and he accompanied the
Prince to New Zealand on his gap year.
Known simply as 'Van' to his friends, he is a key figure in the Duke and Duchess's inner circle.
He
worked at Strutt & Parker estate agents, and as a property finder,
and in 2012 set up VanHan, a London estate agency, which has offices in
London, Dubai, Moscow and Hong Kong.
Mr
van Straubenzee's friendship with both William and Harry made headlines
in 2011 when he was mugged at knifepoint in Battersea while talking on
the phone to Harry, and concerned Prince drove across town to check on
him.
He
married Lady Melissa Percy, the youngest daughter of the Duke of
Northumberland, at St Michael's Church in Northumbria in 2013. Kate was
heavily pregnant with Prince George at the time and unable to attend,
but both William and Harry were ushers at the ceremony and Harry's
ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy was a bridesmaid.
James Meade
James
Meade went to Eton with William and has been a good friend since
school. He is the son of Olympic gold medallist equestrian Richard
Meade.
He is also close to Kate and even accompanied her to the Badminton Horse Trials after her brief split from William in May 2007.
Mr
Meade, known to his friends as 'Meadey', once took part in a charity
boxing match at Boodles Boxing Ball in 2008 - watched by William and
Kate, under the nickname 'the Badger'.
He
is married to Lady Laura Marsham, daughter of the 8th Earl of Romney.
Kate missed their wedding to look after Prince George who was only a few
months old at the time, but William, who was an usher, Prince Harry and
Pippa Middleton all attended.
Adam Middleton
Adam Middleton is Kate's cousin and she is friendly with him, along with another cousin Lucy Middleton, a solicitor.
In
June last year, Kate attended Mr Middleton's wedding to interior
designer Rebecca Poynton at London's posh Dorchester Hotel. He is the
son of Michael Middleton's brother, Richard, and is said to work in
Mayfair advising senior business executives.
Sophie Carter
Sophie
Carter is an old friend of Kate's. Discreet and trustworthy, she is
among the few pals the Duchess turns to when celebrating her birthday.
She
keeps a low profile, and is the least well known of the five
godparents. However, in the past she has been seen accompanying Kate to
the annual charity carol concert in aid of the Henry van Straubenzee
Memorial Fund, of which William is a patron, as well as tennis matches
at Wimbledon.
Miss Carter is unmarried, but is the ex-girlfriend of fellow godparent Mr van Straubenzee.
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