Michael Middleton, father of the Princess of Wales, has a biography with curious aspects that set him apart within the British royal environment. Although he usually remains in a discreet background, his life holds surprising episodes that reveal a more interesting profile than it seems.
Currently, at 75 years old, he is going through a stage marked by his daughter Kate’s illness. In addition to supporting her in her treatment, he also stays by his son-in-law Prince William’s side. However, among his experiences, there is an unexpected chapter that has defined him and turns out to be the most peculiar fact of his career.
| Europa Press
A father-in-law very close to Prince William
The relationship between William and the Middletons has always been close, to the point of becoming a topic followed with interest by British media. From the beginning of their relationship, William found tranquility and closeness with the Middletons, something very different from palace life.
In 2012, William broke a tradition by spending Christmas with the Middletons instead of going to Sandringham with the Windsors. That decision sparked debate, but it also showed the importance of his in-laws in his personal life. The prince was seeking normality, and he found it in Bucklebury.
The situation experienced in recent months, marked by Kate’s illness, has further strengthened those ties. Michael and Carole have been present at official events, but also in the daily lives of their grandchildren, giving William stability in difficult times.
Michael Middleton’s aristocratic roots
Michael was born in Leeds in 1949 into a family with ties to the British aristocracy and a tradition in military aviation. After studying at the University of Surrey, he decided to start his professional career as an air traffic controller, in some way following in the footsteps of his pilot father.
During those years, he met Carole, whom he married in 1980. Together they created a home in Berkshire and raised a family with three children: Catherine, Pippa, and James. They always tried to give them a stable childhood away from scrutiny, even when Kate’s life changed forever with her marriage.
Settled in Bucklebury, Michael and Carole managed to keep a comfortable lifestyle. Their last name did not resonate in the media, but they did keep a certain social prestige thanks to their origins and the personal effort of both.
| Europa Press
The unexpected business that marked his life
The most striking thing about Michael is that his fortune did not come from aristocratic inheritances, but from a surprising business: selling party supplies. In the late 1980s, he founded the company Party Pieces with his wife, offering everything from balloons to disposable tableware for celebrations.
The company grew quickly and became a financial success. For decades, it provided the family with a high standard of living and reinforced their social position. However, the prosperity ended with financial difficulties that led to the sale of the company in 2023.
That outcome meant bankruptcy and millions in debt, although media attention focused more on the family’s strength in the face of Kate’s illness. Even so, the peculiar party business remains the most surprising fact about Michael Middleton’s life.