Though both of her daughters, Kate and Pippa Middleton, have frequently been photographed and written about—especially in previous years, what with their weddings—Carole Middleton has largely stayed out of the spotlight. In a recent interview with the UK’s Telegraph, however, Carole, 63, opened up about her experiences in parenting, grandparenting, and helping them both to plan their nuptials.
“We talked about music … everything,” she told the paper of how Kate approached her for advice on her 2011 royal wedding to Prince William. “I was involved lots with both Pip’s and Catherine’s weddings.”
But, she said, she also knew when to back off, which she feels is “the most important thing” a parent can do for their child on their wedding day.
Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton adjusts the dress of Pippa Middleton as she enters the church during the wedding of Pippa Middleton and James Matthews at St Mark’s Church on May 20, 2017 in Englefield Green, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage)
“Listen to what your daughter wants,” she said. “You can have all the ideas in the world, but it has to be about them. And don’t muscle in on the guest list.”
Kate and Prince William wed on April 29, 2011, and Pippa married her love, James Matthews, on May 20, 2017. For both occasions, Carole said, she knew that her primary role was to be present and to make her daughters as relaxed and comfortable as possible on their big day.
“Like every mother, I wanted to look my best, make my children proud and enjoy the day,” she said. (Carole wore a Catherine Walker & Co. ensemble for the royal wedding). “I honestly don’t think I was any more stressed than any other mother-of-the-bride.”
(L-R) Michael Middleton, James Matthews, James Middleton, Pippa Middleton and Carole Middleton arrive to attend a Christmas Day service at St Mark’s Church in Englefield on December 25, 2016. / AFP / POOL / Andrew Matthews (Photo credit should read ANDREW MATTHEWS/AFP/Getty Images)
In the Telegraph interview, Carole also spoke of her life as a working mother, and how she felt that did or didn’t impact the amount of time she spent raising Kate, Pippa and James.
“I’m definitely hands-on,” she said. “I don’t find it complicated. My biggest fear [as my children grew up] was that I’d lose my family, but we’ve stayed close. There are times when they say, ‘Can you do this, or that?’ And I can’t quite. But they like the fact that I work. I have two lovely sons-in-law, and I hope I’ll have a lovely daughter-in-law.”
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