Middleton family
Encyclopedia
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge comes from a branch of a Middleton
family. The Duchess's parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, whose wealth derives from their party supplies business, have featured in the world media in the run up to their first daughter's wedding
to Prince William of Wales and its aftermath. In addition, as a result of the world exposure of the wedding ceremony, their two other children, Pippa and James, especially Pippa, have often been discussed in the press.
is a habitational surname
originating from numerous different places throughout England
and Scotland
. There are over 30 places similarly named which are derived from the Old English elements: midel + tūn ("middle" + "enclosure", "settlement"); although some other places have different origins and derived from other elements, such as: micel ("large", "great"), or *(ge)mȳthel ("confluence
"). Early recorded instances of the surname are: de Mideltone in 1166, within the Eynsham Cartulary; de Midilton in 1221, within a charter to the Abbey of Arbroath; and de Midelton in 1327, within the Subsidy Roll
s of Sussex
.
Michael Middleton's family line came from Leeds
: his grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather were all solicitors in that part of England. Michael's father Peter, was an Oxford educated pilot
. His paternal relations, such as the Lupton family, were active in commercial and municipal work in Leeds for several generations. Ancestors of the Middleton family include The Rev. Thomas Davis
, a Church of England
hymn-writer.
William Addams Reitwiesner
has discovered that via Michael Middleton, the family are distantly related to Sir Thomas Fairfax
and his wife Agnes Gascoine, an ancestor of Diana, Princess of Wales
, thus making Catherine and Prince William fifteenth cousins. This link, as well as another more distant ancestry via Sir William Gascoine and his wife, née Lady Margaret Percy
, are both via Michael Middleton's grandmother, Olive Lupton, daughter of a Leeds cloth merchant Francis Lupton and his wife Harriet (née Davis), Fairfax being an ancestor of Lupton. Lady Margaret Percy in turn was a descendant of King Edward III
.
The Goldsmith family of Carole Middleton came from London, although two generations before, the Harrisons were working-class labourers and miners from Sunderland and County Durham
.
. At Clifton, all three Middleton men were boarders of Brown House.
Carole Elizabeth Middleton (née Goldsmith) was born on 31 January 1955 at Perivale Maternity Hospital
in Ealing
. The daughter of a builder, Ronald Goldsmith (1931–2003) and his wife Dorothy Harrison (1935–2006), she grew up in a council flat
in Southall
, and attended the local state school.
The couple met when they both worked for British Airways; Carole as a stewardess, Michael as an officer. In 1979, Michael Middleton was promoted within BA and became a flight dispatcher at London Heathrow Airport
, where he kept track of the airline's fleet on the ground. The couple were married on 21 June 1980, at the parish church of St James in Dorney
, Buckinghamshire. They bought a semi-detached Victorian house in Bradfield Southend near Reading, Berkshire
.
The couple have three children. Their first child, Catherine Elizabeth was born in 1982 and their second Philippa Charlotte
was born in 1983. In 1984, the family briefly moved to Amman, Jordan where Michael Middleton worked for two and a half years.
Their third child, James William was born in 1987. In 1987, when their two eldest children were at a pre-school at St Andrew's School
, Pangbourne
, Carole Middleton set up 'Party Pieces', a company which began by making party bags and which now sells party supplies and decorations by mail order
. By 1995, the firm was being run by both parents and was moved into a range of farm buildings at Ashampstead Common
. The family moved into a larger five-bedroomed house in Bucklebury
, Berkshire. The business was successful, and over the space of a few years the Middletons are reported to have become very wealthy. As a result, the Middletons sent both of their daughters to the independent Downe House, a girls' boarding school in Cold Ash, and finally the public school Marlborough College
, Wiltshire.
Shortly before his eldest daughter's royal marriage, Michael Middleton was granted a coat of arms
. This features three acorn sprigs, one for each of his children. The oak represents "England and strength" as well as the family's home district of West Berkshire
. The white chevronels symbolise peaks and mountains, said to represent the family's love of the Lake District
and skiing
, and the inverted gold chevron represents Carole Middleton's maiden name of Goldsmith.
. It was here, while living at St Salvator's Hall, that she met Prince William. After a long relationship, and a six month engagement
, she married Prince William
at Westminster Abbey on 29 April 2011.
Their second daughter, Philippa Charlotte "Pippa" Middleton
(born 6 September 1983), attended the same schools as her sister and then studied English literature
at Edinburgh University. There she shared a house with Lord Edward Innes-Ker, a son of the Duke of Roxburghe
, and with Earl Percy, heir of the Duke of Northumberland
. Following graduation, in 2008 she took a events management / marketing job with Table Talk, a London-based events catering company. She also writes for The Party Times, an online magazine which is an off-shoot of her parents' company.
James William Middleton, their youngest child, was born on 15 April 1987. He was educated at St Andrew's School, Pangbourne
and Marlborough College
. He started a degree in Environmental Resources Management at the University of Edinburgh
before leaving in 2006 after one year to start his own cake-making business, the Cake Kit Company. Both of the younger siblings live in a flat in Chelsea
, reportedly purchased in 2002 by their parents for £780,000. Both of Catherine's siblings played a prominent role in their sister's wedding; Pippa was the maid of honour
and James read the lesson
.
, a television movie released on 18 April 2011 about Catherine's romance, with Catherine and William played by Camilla Luddington
and Nico Evers-Swindell
respectively. Other members of the Middleton family were played by: Christopher Cousins (Michael Middleton), Serena Scott Thomas
(Carole Middleton), Mary Elise Hayden
(Pippa Middleton), and Calvin Goldspink
(James Middleton). A number of television programmes were also shown in the UK before the wedding which provided deeper insights into the couple's relationship and backgrounds, including When Kate Met William and Channel 4
's Meet the Middletons.
Middleton (name)
Middleton is a locational Anglo-Saxon surname originating from dozens of different settlements in England going by one of the pre-7th century Old English variations of "middle" and "town"...
family. The Duchess's parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, whose wealth derives from their party supplies business, have featured in the world media in the run up to their first daughter's wedding
Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton
The wedding of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine Middleton took place on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London. Prince William, the eldest son of Charles, Prince of Wales, first met Catherine Middleton in 2001, when both were studying at the University of St Andrews. Their...
to Prince William of Wales and its aftermath. In addition, as a result of the world exposure of the wedding ceremony, their two other children, Pippa and James, especially Pippa, have often been discussed in the press.
Background
MiddletonMiddleton (name)
Middleton is a locational Anglo-Saxon surname originating from dozens of different settlements in England going by one of the pre-7th century Old English variations of "middle" and "town"...
is a habitational surname
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
originating from numerous different places throughout England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. There are over 30 places similarly named which are derived from the Old English elements: midel + tūn ("middle" + "enclosure", "settlement"); although some other places have different origins and derived from other elements, such as: micel ("large", "great"), or *(ge)mȳthel ("confluence
Confluence
Confluence, in geography, describes the meeting of two or more bodies of water.Confluence may also refer to:* Confluence , a property of term rewriting systems...
"). Early recorded instances of the surname are: de Mideltone in 1166, within the Eynsham Cartulary; de Midilton in 1221, within a charter to the Abbey of Arbroath; and de Midelton in 1327, within the Subsidy Roll
Subsidy roll
Subsidy Rolls are records of taxation in England made between the 12th and 17th centuries. They are often valuable sources of historical information....
s of Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
.
Michael Middleton's family line came from Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
: his grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather were all solicitors in that part of England. Michael's father Peter, was an Oxford educated pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
. His paternal relations, such as the Lupton family, were active in commercial and municipal work in Leeds for several generations. Ancestors of the Middleton family include The Rev. Thomas Davis
Thomas Davis (clergyman)
Thomas Davis was a Church of England clergyman and hymn writer.-Life:The son of the Rev. Richard Francis Davis DD , by his marriage to Sarah Stable, Davis was born at Worcester, where his father had been Rector since 1795, and was educated at Queen's College, Oxford, graduating Bachelor of Arts in...
, a Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
hymn-writer.
William Addams Reitwiesner
William Addams Reitwiesner
William Addams Reitwiesner was a genealogist who traced the ancestry of United States political figures, European royalty and celebrities.- Biography :...
has discovered that via Michael Middleton, the family are distantly related to Sir Thomas Fairfax
Thomas Fairfax (Gilling)
Sir Thomas Fairfax was an owner of Gilling Castle, near Gilling East, North Yorkshire, England. He is the last known ancestor of both the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.-Sir Thomas Fairfax :...
and his wife Agnes Gascoine, an ancestor of Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
, thus making Catherine and Prince William fifteenth cousins. This link, as well as another more distant ancestry via Sir William Gascoine and his wife, née Lady Margaret Percy
Margaret Percy (1447)
Margaret Gascoigne was an English Noblewoman, the daughter of Henry Percy, 3rd Earl of Northumberland and Eleanor Poynings....
, are both via Michael Middleton's grandmother, Olive Lupton, daughter of a Leeds cloth merchant Francis Lupton and his wife Harriet (née Davis), Fairfax being an ancestor of Lupton. Lady Margaret Percy in turn was a descendant of King Edward III
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
.
The Goldsmith family of Carole Middleton came from London, although two generations before, the Harrisons were working-class labourers and miners from Sunderland and County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
.
Carole and Michael Middleton
Michael Francis Middleton was born in Leeds in 1949, and was the son of a pilot instructor / aviator. His grandfather Noel Middleton was a solicitor. Michael Middleton was educated, like his father and grandfather at Clifton CollegeClifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
. At Clifton, all three Middleton men were boarders of Brown House.
Carole Elizabeth Middleton (née Goldsmith) was born on 31 January 1955 at Perivale Maternity Hospital
Perivale
Perivale is a small suburb in the London Borough of Ealing, west of Charing Cross, central London. Landmarks in the suburb include the A40, a large road that connects Central London with the M40 motorway, and the large Art Deco Hoover Building, as well as St Mary's Church , the River Brent and...
in Ealing
Ealing
Ealing is a suburban area of west London, England and the administrative centre of the London Borough of Ealing. It is located west of Charing Cross and around from the City of London. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically a rural village...
. The daughter of a builder, Ronald Goldsmith (1931–2003) and his wife Dorothy Harrison (1935–2006), she grew up in a council flat
Council house
A council house, otherwise known as a local authority house, is a form of public or social housing. The term is used primarily in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Council houses were built and operated by local councils to supply uncrowded, well-built homes on secure tenancies at...
in Southall
Southall
Southall is a large suburban district of west London, England, and part of the London Borough of Ealing. It is situated west of Charing Cross. Neighbouring places include Yeading, Hayes, Hanwell, Heston, Hounslow, Greenford and Northolt...
, and attended the local state school.
The couple met when they both worked for British Airways; Carole as a stewardess, Michael as an officer. In 1979, Michael Middleton was promoted within BA and became a flight dispatcher at London Heathrow Airport
London Heathrow Airport
London Heathrow Airport or Heathrow , in the London Borough of Hillingdon, is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the third busiest airport in the world in terms of total passenger traffic, handling more international passengers than any other airport around the globe...
, where he kept track of the airline's fleet on the ground. The couple were married on 21 June 1980, at the parish church of St James in Dorney
Dorney
Dorney is a village and civil parish within South Bucks district in the English county of Buckinghamshire, near Slough and about two and a half miles west of Eton.The village name is Old English and means "island frequented by bumble bees"...
, Buckinghamshire. They bought a semi-detached Victorian house in Bradfield Southend near Reading, Berkshire
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
.
The couple have three children. Their first child, Catherine Elizabeth was born in 1982 and their second Philippa Charlotte
Pippa Middleton
Philippa Charlotte "Pippa" Middleton is an English party planner, socialite and younger sister of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge...
was born in 1983. In 1984, the family briefly moved to Amman, Jordan where Michael Middleton worked for two and a half years.
Their third child, James William was born in 1987. In 1987, when their two eldest children were at a pre-school at St Andrew's School
St Andrew's School, Pangbourne
St Andrew's School is an independent preparatory school in the hamlet of Buckhold, near Pangbourne, Berkshire, England.-History:The school was founded in 1934 as a boarding school for boys...
, Pangbourne
Pangbourne
Pangbourne is a large village and civil parish on the River Thames in the English county of Berkshire. Pangbourne is the home of the independent school, Pangbourne College.-Location:...
, Carole Middleton set up 'Party Pieces', a company which began by making party bags and which now sells party supplies and decorations by mail order
Mail order
Mail order is a term which describes the buying of goods or services by mail delivery. The buyer places an order for the desired products with the merchant through some remote method such as through a telephone call or web site. Then, the products are delivered to the customer...
. By 1995, the firm was being run by both parents and was moved into a range of farm buildings at Ashampstead Common
Ashampstead Common
Ashampstead Common is a common in the English county of Berkshire, within the civil parish of Ashampstead.The common lies north of the M4 motorway, near to Ashampstead, Lower Basildon and Yattendon....
. The family moved into a larger five-bedroomed house in Bucklebury
Bucklebury
Bucklebury is a village and civil parish in West Berkshire. The village is about north-east of Newbury and about north of the A4 road. It has a population of 2,066.-Geography:...
, Berkshire. The business was successful, and over the space of a few years the Middletons are reported to have become very wealthy. As a result, the Middletons sent both of their daughters to the independent Downe House, a girls' boarding school in Cold Ash, and finally the public school Marlborough College
Marlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
, Wiltshire.
Shortly before his eldest daughter's royal marriage, Michael Middleton was granted a coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
. This features three acorn sprigs, one for each of his children. The oak represents "England and strength" as well as the family's home district of West Berkshire
West Berkshire
West Berkshire is a local government district in the ceremonial county of Berkshire, England, governed by a unitary authority . Its administrative capital is Newbury, located almost equidistantly between Bristol and London.-Geography:...
. The white chevronels symbolise peaks and mountains, said to represent the family's love of the Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
and skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
, and the inverted gold chevron represents Carole Middleton's maiden name of Goldsmith.
Children
Their first daughter, Catherine Elizabeth "Kate" Middleton, now known as HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, was born on 9 January 1982. After finishing at Marlborough, she went to study at University of St AndrewsUniversity of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
. It was here, while living at St Salvator's Hall, that she met Prince William. After a long relationship, and a six month engagement
Engagement
An engagement or betrothal is a promise to marry, and also the period of time between proposal and marriage which may be lengthy or trivial. During this period, a couple is said to be betrothed, affianced, engaged to be married, or simply engaged...
, she married Prince William
Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton
The wedding of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine Middleton took place on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London. Prince William, the eldest son of Charles, Prince of Wales, first met Catherine Middleton in 2001, when both were studying at the University of St Andrews. Their...
at Westminster Abbey on 29 April 2011.
Their second daughter, Philippa Charlotte "Pippa" Middleton
Pippa Middleton
Philippa Charlotte "Pippa" Middleton is an English party planner, socialite and younger sister of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge...
(born 6 September 1983), attended the same schools as her sister and then studied English literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
at Edinburgh University. There she shared a house with Lord Edward Innes-Ker, a son of the Duke of Roxburghe
Guy Innes-Ker, 10th Duke of Roxburghe
thumb|right|Portrait by [[Allan Warren]]Guy David Innes-Ker, 10th Duke of Roxburghe , is a British aristocrat. He was the elder son of the 9th Duke by his second wife Elisabeth McConnel...
, and with Earl Percy, heir of the Duke of Northumberland
Ralph Percy, 12th Duke of Northumberland
thumb|Portrait by [[Allan Warren]]Ralph George Algernon Percy, 12th Duke of Northumberland DL is a British peer. He is the son of Hugh Percy, 10th Duke of Northumberland and Lady Elizabeth Montagu Douglas Scott....
. Following graduation, in 2008 she took a events management / marketing job with Table Talk, a London-based events catering company. She also writes for The Party Times, an online magazine which is an off-shoot of her parents' company.
James William Middleton, their youngest child, was born on 15 April 1987. He was educated at St Andrew's School, Pangbourne
St Andrew's School, Pangbourne
St Andrew's School is an independent preparatory school in the hamlet of Buckhold, near Pangbourne, Berkshire, England.-History:The school was founded in 1934 as a boarding school for boys...
and Marlborough College
Marlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
. He started a degree in Environmental Resources Management at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
before leaving in 2006 after one year to start his own cake-making business, the Cake Kit Company. Both of the younger siblings live in a flat in Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
, reportedly purchased in 2002 by their parents for £780,000. Both of Catherine's siblings played a prominent role in their sister's wedding; Pippa was the maid of honour
Bridesmaid
The bridesmaids are members of the bride's wedding party in a wedding. A bridesmaid is typically a young woman, and often a close friend or sister. She attends to the bride on the day of a wedding or marriage ceremony...
and James read the lesson
Lection
A lection is a reading, in this context, from Scripture.The custom of reading the books of Moses in the synagogues on the Sabbath day was a very ancient one. The addition of lections from the prophetic books had been made afterwards and was in existence at the time of Jesus, as may be gathered...
.
Family tree
Television and film portrayals
In William & KateWilliam & Kate
William & Kate is the first of two unrelated American television films about the relationship between Prince William and Catherine "Kate" Middleton , directed by Mark Rosman and written by Nancey Silvers. The film was a ratings success, despite the negative reception from critics...
, a television movie released on 18 April 2011 about Catherine's romance, with Catherine and William played by Camilla Luddington
Camilla Luddington
Camilla Anne Luddington is an English actress, notable for being cast as Catherine Middleton in the 2011 film William & Kate. She is originally from Berkshire and was educated at an all-girls school in Ascot, Berkshire...
and Nico Evers-Swindell
Nico Evers-Swindell
Nico Evers-Swindell is a New Zealand actor who gained international prominence for his portrayal of Prince William in the 2011 film William and Kate...
respectively. Other members of the Middleton family were played by: Christopher Cousins (Michael Middleton), Serena Scott Thomas
Serena Scott Thomas
Serena Harriet Scott Thomas is an English actress.-Family and personal:Scott Thomas was born in Nether Compton, Dorset. Her mother, Deborah , was brought up in Hong Kong and Africa, and studied drama before marrying Scott Thomas' father...
(Carole Middleton), Mary Elise Hayden
Mary Elise Hayden
Mary Elise Hayden is an American actress born in West Palm Beach, Florida. She is best known for her role as Pippa Middleton in the 2011 Lifetime TV movie William & Kate....
(Pippa Middleton), and Calvin Goldspink
Calvin Goldspink
Calvin Goldspink is a British actor and former child pop star. He first came to notice as a member of the juvenile manufactured pop group S Club Juniors...
(James Middleton). A number of television programmes were also shown in the UK before the wedding which provided deeper insights into the couple's relationship and backgrounds, including When Kate Met William and Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
's Meet the Middletons.