Royals

Who Are Kate Middleton’s Parents? Meet Carole and Michael Middleton!

Published

9 years ago

July 6, 2017

Julia Birkinbine

How much do you know about Kate Middleton‘s parents, Carole Middleton and Michael Middleton?

Scroll down to read everything you need to know about the Duchess of Cambridge’s mom and dad!

What do Kate’s parents do for work?

After graduating college, Michael worked as a British Airways flight attendant and later as a flight dispatcher. Carole met her future-husband while she was similarly working as a flight attendant in the 1970s.

MORE: Prince Charles “Frustrated” He Doesn’t See Prince George as Much as The Middletons

In 1987, Carole founded Party Pieces, a company specializing in mail order party supplies and decorations. Michael later left his job at British Airways and the couple grew Party Pieces into the multi-million dollar business it is today!

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Carole and Michael in July 2017. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

How many children do Carole and Michael have?

The pair married in June 1980. They welcomed their eldest child, daughter Catherine “Kate” Middleton, in January 1982 and their middle child, daughter Philippa “Pippa” Middleton, in September 1983. Carole gave birth to the couple’s youngest child, James Middleton, in April 1987.

MORE: Kate Middleton Is Changing the Royal Rules as She Prepares to Become Queen! (EXCLUSIVE)

Are Carole and Michael royals?

No, they’re not! Though Carole and Michael aren’t royals themselves, they do have some royal roots. Carole’s great-great-grandfather was a direct descendant of King Edward IV, making Carole a distant cousin of the Queen Mother.

Michael comes from a wealthy family with ties to the British aristocracy. In the past, his family had entertained members of the British Royal Family in Leeds, England. Shortly before his daughter, Kate, married Prince William in April 2011, Michael was granted a coat of arms as the armigerous head of the Middleton family.

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Do they get along with the royal family?

Yes! Carole and Michael are often included in royal family events and spend quite a lot of time with Kate and William’s two young children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

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Michael and Carole with the royal family in 2015. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Following his royal engagement to Kate back in 2010, William gushed about his future in-laws. “Mike and Carole have been really sort of loving and caring and really fun,” he said at the time. “They have been really welcoming towards me, so I’ve felt really a part of the family.” How sweet!