Mentor helps Kate Middleton prepare for Royal life
One of Britain's most senior diplomats has been enlisted to help Kate Middleton prepare for her new life as a member of the Royal Family.
Sir David Manning, the former British ambassador to the United States, will give the future Royal bride "advice and mentoring" on a range of subjects including state matters and foreign affairs.
Sir David, 61, was appointed as an adviser to Princes William and Harry at the request of the Queen when they formed their own private office at the beginning of 2009.
The Queen is also said to have specially requested that Sir David accompany Prince William on his first solo foreign tour last year to Australia and New Zealand, undertaken on behalf of the monarch.
He is expected to accompany the Royal couple on their first foreign tour together after their marriage in April.
The decision to appoint him as an adviser and "safe pair of hands" to guide Miss Middleton, 29, will be seen as a move by Royal courtiers not to make the same mistakes as were made with the late Diana, Princess of Wales, who felt that she was not adequately prepared for Royal life.
A Royal aide said: "Sir David is a senior adviser to Prince William and Prince Harry and so naturally would become a senior adviser to Catherine as well, to provide her with advice and mentoring where needed.
"He is a key member of the household and offers his thoughts on a whole range of subjects, as you'd imagine someone of his experience and seniority would.
"His career speaks for itself and he advises on things that his experience covers - and obviously that includes foreign affairs, but other matters too."
The ambassador to Washington from 2003 and 2007, Sir David was also a key foreign policy adviser to Tony Blair in the run-up to the 2003 Iraq war and last year gave evidence to the Chilcot inquiry, which is examining Britain's role in the conflict.
A highly respected diplomat, his career in the Foreign Office also saw him serve in embassies in Israel, Poland, India, Paris and Moscow.
Sir David is seen as playing a similar role to that of General Sir Frederick Browning, a decorated soldier and war hero who fought in both world wars, and who acted as a senior adviser to the then Princess Elizabeth during the 1940s.
"Boy" Browning, as he was known, provided the young Princess with years of sound advice, and the Queen is said to be keen to ensure that Prince William and his future bride have a similar "wise man" to help them adapt to life as working Royals.