Prince Harry calls Kate Middleton the ‘big sister he never had’

When Prince Harry wants a shoulder to lean on — or a delicious meal — he runs to the lady he refers to as his “big sister.”

The siblings-in-law are often photographed with Prince William at functions, but their real one-on-one comradery is entirely their own. While Kate and Harry are barely photographed alone together, the fact is that they get along far better than the public believes.

Prince Harry discussed his relationship with sister-in-law Kate Middleton and how she helped him cope with his mother's death in an interview with Newsweek.

“There was no filling the hole left by Diana's death, and Harry seemed to be growing up without someone emotionally available he could lean on,” the story reads. “Kate has helped fill some of that gap. When she and William got engaged, Harry called her the big sister he never had. He often pops into their apartment at Kensington Palace, where she cooks him a meal — roast chicken is reportedly a particular favorite.”

Prince Harry, Prince William, and Duchess Kate all reside at Kensington Palace in London, with Harry in a two-bedroom cottage on the grounds and his brother and Middleton in a 22-room apartment inside the palace. Their close proximity encourages them to keep a close relationship.

They met after William began dating Kate about a decade ago and have remained friends ever since. Their bond was also linked to Harry's relationship with his mother, the late Princess Diana, in a Newsweek profile.

“Kate has quite a different relationship with Harry than she has with William. Harry appeals to her sillier side because he is carefree, footloose and loves banter. He finds things funny about people and says so,” a source told the Daily Mail last year. “Kate also adores the way Harry plays with her children — he is very good with them, a charming big kid and silly uncle.”

Kate was instrumental in Harry's burgeoning friendship with his future partner, Meghan Markle. Harry allegedly requested Kate's counsel and consent before asking Meghan to marry him, which shows you what you need to know about how they feel about each other behind closed doors.

According to a source who spoke to Grazia earlier this year, as soon as Meghan and Harry's relationship got intense, the prince demanded that Kate visit her. “Harry and Kate are very close, she's been like a mentor to him and he wanted her seal of approval,” the source said. “Kate is different to Meghan in many ways, but she has made great strides to help Meghan settle in.”

Harry has spoken up about his challenges after his mum, Princess Diana, died in a car crash when he was 12, most notably admitting that he suffers from panic attacks. When Harry was 28, William assisted him in seeking psychological counseling to work on his problems related to their mother's death, which had caused “total chaos,” as Harry put it.

Harry told Newsweek, “My mother died when I was very young.” “I didn't want to be in the position I was in, but I eventually pulled my head out of the sand, started listening to people and decided to use my role for good. I am now fired up and energized and love charity stuff, meeting people and making them laugh.

“I sometimes still feel I am living in a goldfish bowl, but I now manage it better. I still have a naughty streak too, which I enjoy and is how I relate to those individuals who have got themselves into trouble.”

“We are involved in modernizing the British monarchy,” Harry said. “We are not doing this for ourselves but for the greater good of the people… Is there any one of the royal family who wants to be king or queen? I don't think so, but we will carry out our duties at the right time.”