How Kate Middleton’s Parents Built Their Million-Dollar Business
Kate Middleton may come from humble origins but her parents were able to build a multi-million dollar business that put her on the path to becoming a member of the royal family. Kate’s mother, Carole Middleton, started a party supply business in the 1980s that enabled the family to send her to Marlborough – the same school that graduated Princess Eugenie – and then to St. Andrews, where she was introduced to her future husband, Prince William. So how did the Middletons build a multi-million dollar business?
Inside Kate Middleton’s family business
Long before she was hanging out with members of the royal family, Kate’s mother, Carole, was employed as a flight attendant. While the family enjoyed a moderate level of success, things really turned around after Carole came up with a new business idea in the late 1980s. According to Vanity Fair, Carole came up with a business that distributed party supplies through the mail.
When the internet came along, the family used the new platform to expand the business even further. Their company, Party Pieces, is now worth millions of dollars and continues to fund many of the family’s activities.
The Middletons have even started to incorporate elements of the royal family on their products. Their website, for example, features cakes that have personalized names on them. Some of the names include George, Archie, and James, though none of them reference the other children in the royal family, like Princess Charlotte or Prince Louis.
The names have led some fans to speculate that Carole has favorites in the royal family, with George clearly at the top of the list. It should be noted, however, that names like George and Archie are super popular in the UK.
Did Kate Middleton’s parents convince William to marry her?
Kate and William originally met when they were in college in the early 2000s. They dated for well over a decade before tying the knot in a lavish ceremony in 2011. William famously took his time with the relationship and even broke up with Kate on two separate occasions. Sources claim that William was hesitant to tie the knot because he did not want his marriage ending in a divorce.
William had already lived through a major split when his mother and father, Princess Diana and Prince Charles, ended their marriage in the 1990s. Looking to avoid a similar mishap, William waited to get engaged to Kate Middleton until he knew the relationship would last.
A new documentary, titled William and Harry: Brothers In Arms, claims that Kate’s parents played a big role in William’s proposal. The documentary argues that William was very close to Kate’s parents and often spent time visiting them. This bond is reportedly what ultimately convinced William that Kate was the one. The royal family, of course, has not commented on the report.
Prince William and Kate Middleton exchanged vows in 2011 and currently share three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
Kate Middleton’s mom and dad face backlash
Kate’s romantic life aside, her parents recently faced some criticism for using Meghan Markle to promote their company. The couple’s business, Party Pieces, employed a model to sell a few birthday products that looked a lot like the former actress. Even worse, the model appeared on the website around the same time as Markle’s birthday earlier in the month.
Fans immediately noticed the resemblance and voiced their unhappiness about it on social media. It is unclear if the Middletons hired the model based on her looks, but there is no denying the similarities between her and Markle.
This is not the first time the Middletons have been in the middle of a business controversy. Last year, when Harry and Markle tied the knot, they faced backlash for selling party favors with a royal wedding theme. Some fans felt as though the family was taking advantage of the royal wedding, though the Middletons have yet to address the controversy.
In light of the scandal, the family is expected to tone things down this year as Harry and Meghan Markle continue to spend time with the newest addition to their home.
Kate Middleton has not commented on her parents business’ scandals or achievements.
