NewIdea
  • Royals
  • Celebrity
  • News
  • Beauty & Style
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Travel
  • Home & Away
  • Podcasts
  • Win
  • Video
NewIdea
  • Royals
  • Celebrity
  • News
  • Beauty & Style
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Travel
  • Home & Away
  • Podcasts
  • Win
  • Video
Subscribe
Home and Away opening title
Watch 1:09

Home and Away opening title

{headline}

{headline}

Prince William reveals Michael Middleton could have STOPPED his wedding

Caught out! Prince Edward's palace fling exposed

Caught out! Prince Edward's palace fling exposed

Kate Middleton reveals one question that gives her mum guilt

Kate Middleton reveals one question that gives her mum guilt

Kate Middleton's shock collapse!

Kate Middleton's shock collapse!

{headline}

{headline}

Kate fights to save Harry: Let me help you!

Devastating reason ‘Prince George will never be King’

Devastating reason ‘Prince George will never be King’

The hardest working member of the royal family is revealed

The hardest working member of the royal family is revealed

{headline}

{headline}

Kate Middleton reveals which vegetables the royal children eat!

Kate Middleton reveals which vegetables the royal children eat!

Prince Harry’s nickname for Kate Middleton revealed

Royal news: Prince Louis is going through a difficult phase

Royal news: Prince Louis is going through a difficult phase

Kate Middleton's new role sends internet into meltdown

Kate Middleton's new role sends internet into meltdown

Royal SHOCK: Kate Middleton goes it alone without Prince William

Royal SHOCK: Kate Middleton goes it alone without Prince William

Kate Middleton pregnancy shock as she pulls out of engagement

Kate Middleton pregnancy shock as she pulls out of engagement

Meghahn Markle: 'I’m being pitted against Kate Middleton'

Meghahn Markle: 'I’m being pitted against Kate Middleton'

  1. Home
  2. Royals

Michael Middleton: The First Man In Duchess Kate's Life

Get to know the Duchess’ doting dad! - by Rhys McKay
  • 26 Feb 2020

There’s no doubt that Kate Middleton was raised well – she’s so sophisticated!

WATCH: Duchess Catherine shares memories from her sailing days

While we know almost everything there is to know about the regal family Kate married into, there is much less known about Kate’s side of the family!

Here, New Idea takes a look at Michael Middleton, the man who raised the Duchess of Cambridge!

Meet The Middletons

While the Middleton family isn’t quite like every other family (they are quite wealthy!), they were a far cry from royalty. In the early 19th century, the Middletons were quite well-known in the West Riding of Yorkshire due to their law firm. This law firm was dubbed Messrs Middleton and Sons and it was founded by William Middleton, a gentleman farmer and solicitor.

An illustration of 'The Bridge' in Otley, Yorkshire

In the early 19th century, the Middletons were quite well-known in the West Riding of Yorkshire due to their law firm.

Getty

William Middleton’s son followed in his footsteps as a solicitor: Richard Noel Middleton, who also founded the Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra. Richard would become the father of Captain Peter Middleton, who actually became Prince Philip’s co-pilot in touring South America – talk about royal connections!

Captain Peter Middleton would then become the father of Michael Middleton, who heads the tight-knit Middleton family composed of him, his wife Carole, and children Kate, Pippa and James.

Who Is Michael Middleton?

Michael Francis Middleton was born June 23, 1949 in Leeds, England. His father was Captain Peter Francis Middleton of the Royal Air Force, and his mother was Valerie Glassborow, who worked at Bletchley Park during World War II. He has three brothers: Simon, Nicholas, and Richard.

Like his grandfather and father, Michael went to Clifton College, a boarding school in Bristol. He originally wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps and become a pilot. He studied for six months at the British European Airways’ flight school, before deciding to be part of the ground crew instead. Michael then started working for British Airways as a flight dispatcher.

Meeting The Future Mrs Middleton

It was probably a good thing that Michael chose to be a flight dispatcher instead of a pilot because it was then that he met Carole Goldsmith, who was working as ground staff. Carole originally wanted to become a teacher, but her parents couldn’t afford to send her to college. Instead, she began working to support herself, starting out as a secretary, then ground staff, and eventually, flight stewardess.

Parents of Kate Middleton, Michael and Carole Middleton, walking on their rural property

Michael (right) met Carole (left) while working at British Airways.

Getty

Michael and Carole quickly fell in love and married on June 21, 1980, at the Church of St. James in Buckinghamshire. In 1982, they welcomed their first child, daughter Catherine Elizabeth or Kate, the future Duchess of Cambridge. Philippa Charlotte aka Pippa immediately followed in 1983.

The family of four moved to Amman, Jordan for Michael’s job as a British Airways manager. They returned to England in 1987, and their youngest child James William was born, completing the family of five.

Making A Fortune

While Michael and Carole met as employees of British Airways, they didn’t wait until retirement to leave the company. In 1987, while Carole was pregnant with James, she started the family company Party Pieces, which made party bags.

Party Pieces went beyond party bags – they branched out into party supplies and decorations. Business boomed, and by 1995, Michael was also helping out with the company. They both worked hard to make the company succeed, and for a while, it was their only source of income!

Eventually, Michael and Carole would also invest in real estate, which let them build up their income even more. They also invested in racehorse shares, which earned the Middletons a fair amount of through prize money. Michael’s father died in 2010, and left him an inheritance of around $USD 130,000 (around $AUD 191,456), which contributed to the Middletons’ wealth.

Becoming Royal-Adjacent

“Quiet” and “reserved” were the words that you could use to describe Michael Middleton. Kate Middleton’s very public engagement and marriage to no less than the second in line to the throne, Prince William was something that definitely made him a bit uncomfortable.

Of course, Kate Middleton’s father is very happy to have Prince William as a son-in-law, but the sheer amount of media coverage on their wedding day made him a bit queasy: “Thank goodness that’s over, and I’ll never have to do it again.” We’re certainly glad that Michael allowed the Prince to marry his daughter, otherwise we wouldn’t have Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge now!

Michael and Carole Middleton at the wedding of Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

Pictured: Michael (left) and Carole (right) Middleton.

Getty

Michael and Carole, despite now being members of the Royal family by marriage, lead a relatively quiet life. They are invited to royal events, which they attend with Kate and William, such as the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, though they prefer to fly peacefully under the radar, away from the news.

Michael recently celebrated his 70th birthday, surrounded by his family: his wife of 39 years, Carole; his three children, Kate, Pippa, and James; and his four grandchildren, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, and the latest addition to the Middleton clan, Pippa’s firstborn Arthur Michael!

  • Royals
  • Celebrity
Rhys McKay

Just $6 for 6 issues delivered!-SAVE 79%

Subscribe to New Idea today

Subscribe Now
Just $6 for 6 issues delivered!

Just $6 for 6 issues delivered!-SAVE 79%

Subscribe to New Idea today

Subscribe Now
Just $6 for 6 issues delivered!

Recommended to you

Home and Away opening title
Watch 1:09

Home and Away opening title

{headline}

{headline}

Prince William reveals Michael Middleton could have STOPPED his wedding

Caught out! Prince Edward's palace fling exposed

Caught out! Prince Edward's palace fling exposed

Kate Middleton reveals one question that gives her mum guilt

Kate Middleton reveals one question that gives her mum guilt

Kate Middleton's shock collapse!

Kate Middleton's shock collapse!

{headline}

{headline}

Kate fights to save Harry: Let me help you!

Devastating reason ‘Prince George will never be King’

Devastating reason ‘Prince George will never be King’

The hardest working member of the royal family is revealed

The hardest working member of the royal family is revealed

{headline}

{headline}

Kate Middleton reveals which vegetables the royal children eat!

Kate Middleton reveals which vegetables the royal children eat!

Prince Harry’s nickname for Kate Middleton revealed

Royal news: Prince Louis is going through a difficult phase

Royal news: Prince Louis is going through a difficult phase

Kate Middleton's new role sends internet into meltdown

Kate Middleton's new role sends internet into meltdown

Royal SHOCK: Kate Middleton goes it alone without Prince William

Royal SHOCK: Kate Middleton goes it alone without Prince William

Kate Middleton pregnancy shock as she pulls out of engagement

Kate Middleton pregnancy shock as she pulls out of engagement

Meghahn Markle: 'I’m being pitted against Kate Middleton'

Meghahn Markle: 'I’m being pitted against Kate Middleton'

NewIdea
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Competitions
NewIdea Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Competitions

Brands

  • Girlfriend
  • New Idea food
  • Practical Parenting
  • That’s Life
  • Who

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • marie claire
  • Instyle
  • Beauty Crew
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • Home Beautiful
  • All Recipes
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • Airtasker
  • 7NEWS
  • SocietyOne
  • Health Engine
  • Starts at 60
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from New Idea

Magazine Subscription Offer

Just $6 for 6 issues delivered!-SAVE 79%

Shop This Offer
Just $6 for 6 issues delivered!