Carole Middleton has been described as “absolutely pivotal” to the Prince and Princess of Wales as she marks her 71st birthday, with royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams highlighting the central role the Middleton family has played in providing stability and support behind the scenes.
Speaking exclusively to GB News, Mr Fitzwilliams said Mrs Middleton’s influence on Prince William and Catherine has been profound, particularly during recent years when the family has faced intense personal and public pressure.
“Terribly important,” Mr Fitzwilliams said when asked about Mrs Middleton’s role. “It’s the stability William loved. He could be informal. That’s what they’ve developed.”
He suggested the Middletons have long provided a sense of normality distinct from royal life, allowing the Prince of Wales to step outside rigid Palace structures and experience a more conventional family environment.
TRENDING
Stories
Videos
Your Say
Mr Fitzwilliams claimed much of that support operates deliberately out of public view.
“This is all below the radar,” he said. “They wouldn’t want us to know. The whole thing is the support mechanism, the support network.”
He added that the Middletons’ contribution became particularly significant during what he described as a “fateful period” when the Princess of Wales was undergoing treatment for cancer.
“The support mechanism they arranged during the fateful period of Catherine’s illness was absolutely pivotal,” Mr Fitzwilliams said, referring to the princess’s announcement last year that her cancer is now in remission.
Carole Middleton central to ‘absolutely pivotal’ stability behind Prince William and Catherine
|GETTY
“Obviously, we all hope she continues the pace.”
While Mr Fitzwilliams suggested the family has largely stayed out of sight, Mrs Middleton was in fact last seen publicly earlier this month, when she joined Catherine and her sister, Pippa Matthews, for a low-key lunch at a French restaurant in Berkshire to mark the princess’s 44th birthday.
The outing was confirmed by the restaurant on social media.
The appearance reflected the understated way the Middletons have tended to support the Wales family, avoiding formal public roles while remaining closely involved in family life, including childcare.
LATEST ROYAL DEVELOPMENTS
Carole Middleton and Michael Middleton attending Wimbledon in 2024
| PAMr Fitzwilliams said Mrs Middleton’s importance lies precisely in that lack of visibility: “Absolutely pivotal, but again, unsigned heroes.”
He added that the Middletons have consistently prioritised discretion, allowing William and Catherine to present a stable public image while relying on a strong private support system.
Looking ahead, Mr Fitzwilliams suggested the family’s influence is likely to continue as the Prince and Princess of Wales resume a fuller programme of engagements.
Carole Middleton and Michael Middleton both live in Bucklebury, near their three children
| PA“Soon they’ll be touring abroad or whatever,” he said, noting that the groundwork enabling that has been laid quietly by those closest to them.
Mrs Middleton, a former air hostess and businesswoman, has rarely commented publicly on royal matters since her daughter’s marriage in 2011.
Instead, she has maintained a low profile alongside her husband, Michael Middleton.