The Middleton Matriarch Carole Opens Up

Kate’s Mum Breaks Her Long Silence On Fitting In With The Firm.

- Judy Kean

For nearly 15 years, since it was officially confirmed that Prince William was dating her daughter Kate, Carole Middleton has been the model of discretion.

Although she’s had ample opportunity, Carole (63) has never spoken out about her eldest child marrying into the royal family or even given a proper interview.

But she has broken her silence to give no less than three interviews this month and although she has refrained from sharing her opinion about her in-laws, other than to say she thinks William is “lovely”, she has revealed some telling details about what it’s like to be in the spotlight thanks to who your child marries.

The mum of three told one paper she wanted to “come across as normal, because that’s what I am”, despite being the grandmother to the future king, of course. She says she no longer reads online stories about herself. Often painted as a pushy parent, she used to check out what was being said because she thought it was “better to know what people thought”.

But she changed her mind about that a year ago and stopped looking at the articles. “It doesn’t make any difference,” she says. “I’m not really sure how I’m perceived now.”

However, Carole, who has made millions from the party supplies business she started from home, does seem to care about how she comes across. In one interview, after talking about how she likes to have as many Christmas trees as possible around the house, she takes a moment to reflect before saying, “That makes me sound as if I live in a mansion, doesn’t it?”