Queen Elizabeth II appreciated how warmly Carole and Michael Middleton welcomed Prince William into their family. She also recognized the support they provided to her grandson.
According to her former press secretary, Ailsa Anderson, the late monarch valued the stability of the Middleton family. Moreover, this closeness may have meant even more to her after three of her four children went through divorces.
Queen Elizabeth’s former press secretary explains why she valued Carole and Michael Middleton’s support for Prince William
Speaking to Hello! magazine for a profile on Carole Middleton, Anderson explained that the Queen wanted her grandchildren to be happy and recognized how warmly Kate Middleton’s parents embraced William.
Anderson said, “The Queen always wanted her children and grandchildren to be happy, and she recognized what a huge support Carole and Michael Middleton were to William and how they welcomed him with open arms into their family.”
She added that the Queen appreciated the family’s closeness and commitment to one another. “She had three out of her four children divorce, so I think she liked the fact that her grandson was marrying into a really close family who have stuck together through thick and thin.”
The Middletons were subsequently welcomed into royal family gatherings at Balmoral Castle and the Sandringham estate. In 2016, Carole was even photographed sitting beside Queen Elizabeth as the monarch drove them during a visit to Balmoral.
Meanwhile, Carole became an especially important source of support for William and Kate after the Princess of Wales announced her cancer diagnosis in March 2024. While Kate underwent chemotherapy, Carole reportedly helped care for the couple’s three children and supported William through a difficult period.
Royal author Ingrid Seward told Hello! that Carole helped with school routines, cooking and preparing meals for William. Royal writer Robert Jobson also described her as a dependable presence for the family. Jobson said, “She was there to support William and was there all the time for the grandchildren. She’s been as solid as a rock.”
William previously described 2024 as the “hardest year” of his life as both Kate and King Charles faced cancer diagnoses. Having lost his mother, Princess Diana, at 15, he reportedly benefited from having Carole available for practical and emotional support.
