11 People in Kate Middleton's Top-Secret Squad

Emilia Jardine-Paterson
She's one of the top contenders for the position of Kate's best friend. The pair were at Marlborough College together, and when Kate and William went through their brief split, Emilia took Kate off to Ibiza. These days their lives are more about diapers and teething as they have two young children each. Emilia is also godmother to Prince George. The discreet blonde runs an interior design company, and it's been reported it was she who helped Kate redecorate Kensington Palace and Anmer Hall in recent years. To further cement their friendship, Emilia's husband, David, was at Eton with Prince William.

James and Laura Meade
James is one of William's oldest friends, but when the prince and Kate went through their breakup in 2007, James was photographed with Kate and so is clearly very loyal to her too. James was also at the church service with the royal family the day after Kate's birthday this year, so it's safe to say that he too was around to help the duchess celebrate her birthday. He and wife Laura are Norfolk neighbors of William and Kate, and James is godfather to Princess Charlotte.

Hugh and Rose van Cutsem
Their daughter Grace was a bridesmaid at the royal wedding, and the couple also live near William and Kate with their three children. Hugh is just one of the four van Cutsem brothers who are sons of Prince Charles's best friend from Cambridge, and so William has grown up with them. He and Kate are close to them all, along with their wives and children — so not only do the parents socialize together, but George and Charlotte already have plenty of youngsters to play with.

Rebecca Deacon
As Kate's private secretary, it is Rebecca's job to be constantly by Kate's side, but the pair are also close friends. Rebecca first came across the royals when she worked for Harry's charity Sentebale, before moving into the private office of William and Harry. After William and Kate got engaged, Kate chose Rebecca to be her right-hand woman, and over the following years, they have become even closer.

Natasha Archer
Another of Kate's team has also become a trusted friend — officially Natasha is Kate's PA, and she is also the closest Kate has to a stylist. She too travels the world with the duchess and, like Rebecca Deacon, was one of the first people to arrive at the hospital when Kate gave birth to Prince George and Princess Charlotte.