A Guide To Kate Middleton's Family

The following article mentions domestic violence. 

Being in the ambit of the British royals has given the Middleton family fresh prominence in the last few decades. Princess Catherine's marriage to Prince William in 2011 re-energized the historic ties her family has long held with the British upper class and, with the senior royal only inching closer to the throne, the spotlight on the Middletons is only expected to grow. Their kinship to the monarchy, however, has done little to break down the walls of privacy many Middleton family members — especially the princess' parents — like to maintain. It seems to be an effective measure to keep them from getting involved in whatever drama plagues the royal family each passing day, at least to some degree. As Catherine's mother, Carole Middleton, told The Telegraph in 2018, "Over the years, it's proved wise not to say anything." 

Through the often overwhelming public existence that weighs on their dynamics, the Middletons have managed to retain their strong familial relationships. "The Middleton family has remained an extremely close unit, in spite of the fame and the grandeur of the lives they now live," royal expert Jennie Bond told OK! magazine. Their continued attachment gives one a sense of the kind of support Catherine will receive as she undergoes treatment for cancer. Royal correspondent Katie Nicholl told ET that the princess is likely to lean extensively on her parents and siblings, who are "the real anchors in her life." Read more about the Middletons in this guide to Princess Catherine's family. 

Even before she married into royalty, Princess Catherine could speak of ties to the British elite — thanks to her father Michael Middleton. A descendant of the prominent Tudor-era Lupton family that dabbled in business for centuries, Michael possessed heritage that gave some aristocratic distinction to the Middleton family before they deepened ties with the highest powers in the land. Though Michael didn't completely trace the footsteps of his father who served in the Royal Air Force, he verged close by joining the aviation industry as a flight dispatcher for British Airways. After he met and married Carole Middleton, Michael committed himself strongly to empowering his wife's business endeavors, per The Telegraph. 

A brief professional relocation to Jordan later, he brought the family back to England and put Carole's career front and center. He collaborated extensively with her as she set up her successful venture Party Pieces. "Mike and I often talked about work in the evenings or on holiday, but we enjoyed it," Carole said. The family business was sold off in 2023 but the Middletons' financial portfolio remained strong, considering the spread of real estate and ancestral wealth in their name. 

The Telegraph, reporting on the family's "better off than the average middle-class" lifestyle, also brought attention to the $1 million worth residence in London that was used exclusively by the Middleton children and the Princess of Wales' annual $30,000 tuition fee at Marlborough College. Michael has refrained from divulging details about his reported affluence.

Pippa Middleton's husband, James Matthews, isn't just a prominent member of the Middleton clan but also of British high society. Princess Catherine's brother-in-law is of elite pedigree, hailing from a family with a burgeoning net worth and influence in the luxury hospitality industry. In fact, it was courtesy of Matthews' family-owned Eden Rock Hotel in St Barts that he first crossed paths with Pippa. The couple's relationship went public in 2012 and they tied the knot five years later in a highly-publicized ceremony that had the who's who of the British monarchy in attendance. 

Being in proximity to royalty would have hardly fazed Matthews, given that he shares his alma mater of Eton College with Princes William and Harry. In fact, reports suggest that his huge wealth surpasses that of many royals. A financier and hedge fund manager with his own business consulting venture, Matthews has a fortune that runs into billions, according to L'Officiel. Business expertise isn't the only skill on Matthews' impressive portfolio. 

He also holds distinction as a former professional racer with a high record of championship wins, who stopped short of a Formula 1 career. His sporting interests remained evident as he marked his presence at Wimbledon matches and charity races he participated in with his wife. Matthews' longtime encounters with public attention, however, were apparently not enough to prep him for the scrutiny that would follow his relationship with Pippa, who told Daily Mail: "It's been a real eye-opener for James." 

Princess Catherine's family grew when her brother James Middleton tied the knot with Alizee Thevenet in 2021. In keeping with James' disposition to break the mold — as well as the sensitive circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic — the couple chose to forgo the extravagance of celebrations that had defined both Catherine and Pippa Middleton's weddings. They said their "I dos" in an intimate setting in the dreamy locales of France, from where Alizee hails. A financier by profession, she currently works with the fintech company TreasurySpring and is a graduate of the Queen Mary University of London. So how did a white-collar brainiac like herself come to cross paths with the insular world of the royals?

The story, as narrated by James, is nothing short of a Hollywood rom-com. As he told The Telegraph, he was at the South Kensington Club with his dog Ella one day in 2018. At one point, Ella darted out from where she was sitting near James and went over to the woman who was to be his future wife. "Rather embarrassed, I went over to apologize and bring Ella back," he recalled. And the rest, as they say, is history. In addition to the big brood of furries they co-parent, James and Alizee also welcomed a baby boy named Inigo in 2023. From red carpets to Wimbledon matches, Alizee is a steady plus-one to James at high-profile public events and has built a quiet country life with him away from the royal glare.

Tallulah Goldsmith is a cousin of Princess Catherine through her father Gary Goldsmith. The royal relative is the only child from Gary's four marriages and he shares her with his ex-wife Luan Bettaney. Though she has ties to one of the world's most beloved princesses, Tallulah seems to enjoy reveling in the pleasures of regular youth way more than royal distinction. A graduate of Newcastle University, she has experience working in management consulting and is currently a Wellbeing Engagement Manager for the wellness app Hapstar, according to her professional profile. Her lively social media doesn't betray her connection with the British royals, giving followers glimpses of the friends, food, and travels in her life. 

Her upbringing was seemingly influenced by that of her cousin Catherine, whom Gary cited as a reference for his parenting approach. "I think the girls and James were beautifully brought up and I'm trying to emulate that with Tallulah," he told Hello! magazine in a 2013 interview. Though Gary's notorious social exploits reportedly put him in low favor among the Middletons and the royals, the Daily Mail noted that there was some attempt at reconciliation by way of Tallulah when Pippa Middleton was getting married. There was alleged talk of Gary's daughter serving as a bridesmaid at her older cousin's wedding in 2017. "Tallulah is thrilled at the prospect," a source told the publication. It seemed Tallulah didn't eventually make the final cut, though she was pictured attending the ceremony with her father.