Carole Middleton facts for kids

Carole Elizabeth Middleton (born 31 January 1955) is a British businesswoman. She is well-known as the mother of Catherine, Princess of Wales. Catherine is married to Prince William, who is next in line to the British throne. Carole also has two other children, Philippa Matthews and James Middleton.

Carole Middleton started a successful company called Party Pieces. This business sold party supplies and decorations. Her grandchildren, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, are important members of the Royal Family. They are second, third, and fourth in line to the British throne.

Who is Carole Middleton?

Her Early Life and Family

Carole Elizabeth Goldsmith was born on 31 January 1955. She was born in Perivale, a part of London, England. Her parents were Ronald and Dorothy Goldsmith.

Carole grew up in Southall, which is in West London. Her father worked as a decorator. Her mother had a part-time job as a jeweller. Carole has a younger brother named Gary Goldsmith.

School and First Jobs

Carole went to Featherstone High School. She left school when she was 16. But she soon went back to study more. She earned four A Levels, which are important exams in the UK.

She thought about becoming a teacher. However, she decided not to go to university. Instead, she worked as a shop assistant for John Lewis & Partners. After that, she became a secretary for British Airways. Later, she worked as a flight attendant for the airline.

Carole's Business Journey

Starting Party Pieces

In 1987, Carole Middleton started her own company. She called it Party Pieces. At first, she made party bags. Then, she started selling party supplies and decorations. She sold them through mail order, which means customers ordered them by mail.

Carole began her business from her kitchen table. She gave out many leaflets to tell people about her new company. Her husband, Michael, left his job at British Airways in 1989. He joined Carole to help with Party Pieces.

Growing the Business

As the company grew, it needed more space. In 1995, Party Pieces moved its main office. It moved to a group of farm buildings in Ashampstead Common.

Party Pieces was sold in May 2023. The company had faced some financial challenges before it was sold.

Carole's Personal Life

Marriage and Children

Carole Goldsmith married her colleague, Michael Middleton. He worked as a flight dispatcher at British Airways. They got married on 21 June 1980. Their wedding was at the Church of St James in Dorney, Buckinghamshire.

After they married, Carole and Michael bought a Victorian house. It was in Bradfield Southend, near Reading, Berkshire. They had three children:

• Catherine (born 9 January 1982)
• Philippa (born 6 September 1983)
• James (born 15 April 1987)

The family moved to Jordan in 1984. They returned to West Berkshire in 1986. In 1995, the Middletons bought a new home. It was a Tudor-style house called Oak Acre in Bucklebury, Berkshire. They also bought a flat in Chelsea, London, in 2002. Their children lived there after finishing university.

Royal Connections and Grandchildren

In 2011, Carole's daughter, Catherine, married Prince William. Their wedding was a big event at Westminster Abbey. The coat of arms created for her husband has a gold chevron. This part of the design refers to Carole's maiden name, Goldsmith.

Carole Middleton has seven grandchildren:

• Prince George
• Princess Charlotte
• Prince Louis
• Arthur Michael
• Grace Elizabeth Jane
• Rose Matthews
• Inigo (James's son)

In 2012, the family bought Bucklebury Manor. This is a large Georgian manor house in Bucklebury, West Berkshire. It sits on over 18 acres of land.

The Middleton family has become very wealthy. Their wealth comes from their successful business. This has made them multi-millionaires.