Carole Middleton

Carole Elizabeth Middleton (''née'' Goldsmith; born 31 January 1955) is a British businesswoman. She is the mother of Catherine, Princess of Wales, Philippa Matthews, and James Middleton.

Born in Perivale and brought up in Southall, London, Middleton was educated at state schools before working as a secretary. She joined British Airways and worked as a flight attendant until her marriage to Michael Middleton, a member of the Middleton family. Middleton founded Party Pieces, a mail-order party supply company, in 1987. Her first three grandchildren, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, are second, third, and fourth in line to the British throne respectively. The Middletons reside at Bucklebury Manor, in Berkshire.

Early life

Carole Elizabeth Goldsmith was born on 31 January 1955 in Perivale, London, the daughter of Ronald (1931–2003) and Dorothy Goldsmith ('' née'' Harrison; 1935–2006); she is the older sister of IT recruitment multi-millionaire Gary Goldsmith. Goldsmith spent her early years in a small house in Southall, attending the local state schools.

She initially left school aged 16, but soon returned and achieved four A Levels. Although she wanted to be a teacher, Goldsmith's parents "couldn't afford to put erthrough college". She then worked as a secretary and can reportedly perform Pitman Shorthand. Brushing up her French, she got a job as ground staff at British Airways where she met Michael Middleton. At the time of her marriage, she was working as a flight attendant.

Marriage and family

While working for the airline, she met flight dispatcher Michael Middleton, a grandson of Olive Middleton – a member of the Lupton family who are described in the City of Leeds archives as being " landed gentry; a political and business dynasty".

The couple were married on 21 June 1980 at the Church of St James in Dorney, Buckinghamshire. They bought a Victorian house in Bradfield Southend near Reading, Berkshire. The Middletons had three children: Catherine (b. 9 January 1982), Philippa (b. 6 September 1983) and James (b. 15 April 1987.)

The family moved to Jordan in 1984 before returning to West Berkshire, Bradfield Southend in 1986. In 1995, the Middletons purchased Oak Acre, a Tudor-style manor house in Bucklebury, Berkshire. In 2002, Middleton and her husband bought "with cash" a flat in Chelsea, London, in which their children lived after completing their university studies. The flat was sold in 2018. In 2012, the family bought Bucklebury Manor, in Bucklebury, West Berkshire – a Grade II listed Georgian manor house set on over 18 acres. The Middletons' grandson Prince George spent his first few weeks at Bucklebury Manor.

The gold chevron on the coat of arms commissioned by her husband is in reference to Middleton's maiden name of Goldsmith.

''The Telegraph'' in 2018 reported Middleton had adopted a vegan diet and would serve vegan options at Christmas dinner.

Career and husband's inherited wealth

In 1987, Middleton established Party Pieces, a company that began by making party bags and which now sells party supplies and decorations by mail order. Middleton first began the business "at her kitchen table" and distributed thousands of leaflets to advertise locally. Her husband quit his job at British Airways to join her at the company in 1989. In 1995, the firm's growth necessitated its headquarters be moved to a range of farm buildings at Ashampstead Common.''Party Pieces Princess'' in '' News of the World'' (21 November 2010), pg. 4 The company is estimated to be worth $40 million, though accounts show that the company has lost £1.068 million during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The family's wealth is the result of their business combined with the trust funds inherited from Olive Christiana Middleton (née Lupton), whom the BBC
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