Carole and Michael Middleton’s 46-year marriage

Prince William and Princess Kate have been happily married for 15 years now, and Kate no doubt looks to her parents’ long-standing union for inspiration what makes a successful marriage. Carole and Michael Middleton have been married for 46 years, and today marks the anniversary of their 1980 nuptials. Discover the highs and lows of their relationship after they said ‘I do’ at St James the Less Church in Dorney…

Births of their three children 

Just two years after their wedding, in 1982, they welcomed their firstborn, Catherine (now Princess of Wales). Sister Pippa was born in 1983 and then followed James in 1987. Talking about the juggle of parenthood to SheerLuxe, Carole said: “Working for myself meant I had flexibility, so I could squeeze in sports matches and school productions. School holidays were tricky, but Mike and I were a good team and we managed to juggle home and work life.”

Moving abroad 

In 1984, British Airways gave Michael a post in Jordan and the family of four relocated. When the employment position came to an end, they moved back, and this was at the same time that Carole was pregnant with James. “I wasn’t convinced I wanted to be an expat mum,” Carole has previously said, perhaps revealing that this wasn’t the happiest time of their lives. 

© Photo: Instagram

Busy thriving business

Back in the UK, Carole set up a party essentials business called Party Pieces. Kate’s mother admitted to Good Houskeeping that the couple took a risk when Mike quit his job to get involved in Carol’s Party Pieces business. In another interview, this time with The Telegraph, the mother-of-two explained there was a spillage of business chat into their home life, but she attests that this wasn’t an issue. “Mike and I often talked about work in the evenings or on holiday, but we enjoyed it. I never really felt I was a working mother although  I was – and the children didn’t either. They grew up with it.”

© Party Pieces

Business insolvency 

In 2023, their Party Pieces company fell into administration as it owed more than £2.6 million to lenders, HMRC, and various trade creditors. This undoubtedly would have been a difficult time for their union. Carole is yet to speak out about the situation. 

Daughter’s cancer diagnosis 

A year later, their daughter, Princess Kate, announced her cancer diagnosis to the world, bringing another black cloud over the Middleton marriage. Kate then underwent treatment and in 2025, she revealed that she was in remission. While this traumatic situation for proud parents Carole and Michael would have brought unknown stress, times of crisis often bring families and loved ones closer together.