Carole Middleton’s Most Controversial Incidents

Princess Catherine’s mother, Carole Middleton, has often found herself in the spotlight for rather unflattering reasons. This isn’t surprising, given her close ties to the British royal family and the media’s interest in anything related to them. Before any of this, Carole was an ordinary flight attendant with big dreams, which indeed came to fruition. Some believe her social ascent was due to her steely ambition, lifting her daughters, Kate and Pippa, along with her.

When Prince William invited Carole Middleton and her husband, Michael, to a royal event before his marriage to Princess Catherine, it became memorable for all the wrong reasons. Rather than celebrating her presence, the media zeroed in on her chewing gum at the event. Biographer Claudia Joseph defended Carole in the documentary “When the Middletons Met the Monarchy,” revealing it was Nicorette gum since Carole had quit smoking. Journalist Peter York was less forgiving, arguing she should have known better.

Carole’s introduction to Queen Elizabeth II was also controversial when she greeted her with “Pleased to meet you, ma’am” instead of the more royal-appropriate “Hello, ma’am.” Other faux pas included referring to the bathroom as “the toilet,” instead of accepted terms like “the lavatory” or “the loo.”

The media and Netflix’s “The Crown” have often depicted Carole Middleton as a master matchmaker, ensuring her daughter married a prince. Royal author Omid Scobie in his 2023 book “Endgame” elaborates on Carole’s role in orchestrating Catherine and William’s meeting at St. Andrew’s University. According to Scobie, Carole had a gut feeling Catherine was destined for royalty, planning her daughter’s life meticulously to meet Prince William. Despite Catherine initially getting accepted at the University of Edinburgh, Carole encouraged her to wait a year and enroll at St. Andrew’s instead where she eventually met William.

Prince William and Princess Catherine experienced ups and downs before their marriage, notably their 2007 split. The media speculated on the reasons, often implicating Carole Middleton. It’s unclear what specifically led to the breakup, but some believe Carole played an instrumental role in their reconciliation. Tina Brown’s book “The Palace Papers” recounts how journalist Stephanie Marsh shared that Carole advised Catherine to live her best life and stay publicly visible to win William back. Royal expert Katie Nicholl claims Carole even asked William if his relationship with Catherine was heading toward marriage, spurring him to propose.

Carole Middleton once successfully ran Party Pieces, but not without controversy among her staff. Former employees shared with the Daily Mail that she was perceived as demanding and difficult, creating a toxic work environment. Complaints ranged from promises of pay raises that never materialized, to a lack of paid time off for medical appointments. Staff also reported a high volume of emails from Carole, sometimes up to 71 a day, and received urgent after-hours work. Her habit of snapping fingers to get attention particularly irked her employees.

The pandemic hit Carole Middleton’s party business hard, forcing her to apply for a £218,749 Coronavirus Business Interruption loan. She also accrued substantial debts, including £612,685 in taxes and £456,008 to creditors. Further loans added up to £1.4 million. To address her financial challenges, Carole sold part of her company, a decision her friends say was deeply disappointing for her. According to The Daily Mail, Carole admitted she was naive in stepping back and trusting others to manage the business she had nurtured for decades.