Will Kate Middleton’s Parents Receive Royal Titles When She Is Crowned the Queen?
Over the years, Kate Middleton's parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, have become trusted confidants of the royal family. They have maintained a close relationship with the royals and are often spotted with them at their high-profile events. The Middletons also have a positive impact on Prince William, who is said to be following in their footsteps when it comes to raising his three children with his wife. As William and Middleton are set to ascend to the British throne to become the King and Queen consort, respectively, a question has arisen as to whether Michael and Carole will be rewarded with royal titles.
According to People Magazine, Middleton does not come from an aristocratic family. Unlike many royal spouses, the princess’s family does not already hold a title; however, they did enter the inner circle of the family upon her marriage to William in 2011. Similarly, when Middleton becomes the Queen consort, it is unlikely that her parents will receive any royal titles.
The long-standing traditions of the British monarchy suggest that royal titles are reserved for those born in the family or married into it. On the other hand, dukedoms and other noble titles can be granted by the sovereign or passed down through generations. In the family’s history, the queen consort’s family has not been rewarded with such an honor. While Middleton could make her mother and sister, Pippa, her designated ‘companions’, it is nothing close to a royal title.
Michael and Carole Middleton met in the early 1980s while working at British Airways. Carole was a flight attendant, and Michael was a flight dispatcher. As a union, they later founded a party supply company, Party Pieces, which helped them provide for their children. They have been a massive support to Kate and her husband after their marriage. Explaining the significance of the Middletons in the future Queen’s life, royal expert Ingrid Seward once told Hello! Magazine, “Carole has always been a rock for Kate, especially this past year—she's been amazing.”
Seward continued, “I imagine her as a sort of pioneer woman driving a wagon with a rifle at her feet, and three children in the back, fighting off any enemy.” The Middletons share a close-knit bond, which William is glad to be a part of. Reflection on the prince's upbringing in a palace, surrounded by nannies, the expert opined, “The Middletons are a traditional family, which is why William enjoyed being around them so much.” Seward added, “When things go wrong, they pull together under Carole's direction,” calling her the matriarch of the family.
During his engagement to Middleton in 2010, the prince said, “Kate’s got a very, very close family.” Per Marie Claire, he continued, “I get on really well with them, and I’m very lucky that they’ve been so supportive.” The future monarch went on to praise his in-laws, calling them “really loving and caring and really fun.”