Carole Middleton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carole Middleton
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|---|---|
Middleton in 2011
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| Born |
Carole Elizabeth Goldsmith
31 January 1955 |
| Citizenship | United Kingdom |
| Education | Featherstone High School |
| Occupation | Businesswoman |
| Spouse(s) |
Michael Middleton
(m. 1980) |
| Children | |
| Relatives | Gary Goldsmith (brother) |
| Family | Middleton |
Carole Elizabeth Middleton, born on January 31, 1955, is a successful English businesswoman. She is well-known as the mother of Catherine, Princess of Wales. Catherine is married to Prince William, who is second in line to the British throne. Carole also has two other children, Philippa Matthews and James Middleton.
Carole grew up in London and went to Featherstone High School. Before starting her own business, she worked as a flight attendant for British Airways. She married Michael Middleton in 1980.
In 1987, Carole started her own company called Party Pieces. It sold party supplies and decorations by mail-order. Her grandchildren, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, are important members of the British Royal Family. The Middleton family lives in Bucklebury Manor in Berkshire, England.
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Carole's Early Life and Family
Carole Elizabeth Goldsmith was born on January 31, 1955, in Perivale, London. Her parents were Ronald and Dorothy Goldsmith. Her father worked as a decorator, and her mother was a part-time sales assistant.
Carole spent her early years in Ealing before moving to Southall, West London. She attended the local high school there. She has an older brother named Gary Goldsmith.
After leaving school at 16, Carole returned to get more qualifications. She wanted to be a teacher, but her parents could not afford the training. She then worked at a shop before becoming a secretary for British Airways. Later, she became a flight attendant.
Starting a Business: Party Pieces
In 1987, Carole Middleton started her company, Party Pieces. She began by making party bags and selling party supplies. She started the business from her kitchen table. To advertise, she handed out thousands of leaflets in her local area.
Her husband, Michael, left his job at British Airways in 1989 to help her with the company. As the business grew, they moved its headquarters to larger buildings in Ashampstead Common in 1995. Party Pieces was sold in May 2023.
Carole's Personal Life
Carole Goldsmith married her colleague, flight dispatcher Michael Middleton, on June 21, 1980. Their wedding took place at the Church of St James in Dorney, Buckinghamshire. Michael's family has a long history in Yorkshire.
After their marriage, Carole and Michael bought a house in Bradfield Southend near Reading, Berkshire. They had three children:
The family moved to Jordan in 1984 for a short time. They returned to Bradfield Southend in 1986. In 1995, the Middletons bought a large house called Oak Acre in Bucklebury, Berkshire. They also bought a flat in Chelsea, London, in 2002. Their children lived there after finishing university.
In 2011, Carole's daughter, Catherine, married Prince William at Westminster Abbey. Carole has seven grandchildren. In 2012, the family bought Bucklebury Manor, a beautiful Georgian house in Bucklebury, West Berkshire.
The Middleton family's wealth comes from their successful business and money inherited from Michael's grandmother, Olive Christiana Middleton. This has made them multi-millionaires.
Supporting Her Family
Carole Middleton has been a strong support for her family. In 2024, she played an important role in helping her daughter, Catherine, Princess of Wales, during her cancer treatment. Carole was seen driving Catherine in Windsor in February 2024. This was Catherine's first public appearance after having surgery in January.
On September 9, 2024, Carole appeared in a video from Kensington Palace. She was with her husband Michael, Catherine, Prince William, and their three children. In the video, they were playing cards, and Catherine announced that she had finished her chemotherapy. The close bond of the Middleton family was also shown in an Instagram post by James Middleton. He wrote, "Over the years, we have climbed many mountains together. As a family, we will climb this one with you too."
