Meet the Middletons! A Complete Guide to Kate Middleton's Family Tree

Mar. 15, 2025

WhenKate Middletonbecame a member of theroyal family, her own family — namely, her parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, and her siblings,Pippa Middletonand James Middleton — also became well known as a result.

But the Middletons’ roots were much more modest than the monarchy. Michael and Carole met while working at British Airways and married in 1980. The couple raised their three children — Kate and heryounger siblings, Pippa and James— in the village of Bucklebury, England. Though their upbringing may have been a far cry from royal life, the Princess of Wales previously revealed that shehas nothing but fond memories of growing upin the countryside.

The Middleton clan grew up close, with Michael and Carole supporting their children at their school sporting events and the family spending school holidays together. That family bond has remained strong as the royal and her siblings have grown into adults and started their own families (Pippa has three children with her husband, James Matthews, and James shares a son with his wife, Alizeé Thevenet)  — and as they’ve faced adversity, includingKate’s cancer diagnosisin March 2024.

From their earliest connections to the royal family to their next generation of little ones, here is everything to know about Kate Middleton’s family.

Kate Middleton’s Parents

Carole Elizabeth Middleton

Andrew Milligan - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Though she is the mother of the future queen consort,Carole Middletoncomes from humble beginnings. Born Jan. 31, 1955, in Perivale, England, Carole Elizabeth Goldsmith was the daughter of Ronald, a builder, and Dorothy, who worked as a shop clerk. Both of her parents had a strong work ethic, which inspired Carole throughout her childhood.

“I grew up watching my parents, who both worked extremely hard,” Carole toldGood Housekeepingin 2021. “I remember them working hard to make ends meet and give us a lifestyle.”

“The success that we’ve had has helped us build the life we have currently,” Carole told theDaily Mailabout Party Pieces in 2021. “I feel incredibly fortunate to have found the professional fulfillment I always wanted.”

Outside of her professional success, Carole and her family were thrust into the spotlight when Kate becameromantically linkedtoPrince Williamin 2002 while attending the University of St. Andrews. Carole eventually became William’s mother-in-law when the couple weremarried in front of 1,900 guestson April 29, 2011.

“I was involved lots with both Pip’s and Catherine’s weddings,” Carole toldThe Telegraphin 2018. “But I think the most important thing, as a parent, is to listen to what your daughter wants. You can have all the ideas in the world, but it has to be about them.”

Carole continues to be a support system for Princess Kate and Prince William,serving as a “reassuring presence”as her daughterrecovered from abdominal surgeryandreceives cancer treatment, and for her grandchildren, whomshe “adores.”She alsohad a bondwith the lateQueen Elizabeth, with a regular observer at Balmoral Castle in Scotland telling PEOPLE in 2016: “I’ve never known a family drawn into the royal family like the Middletons."

“In terms of a non-royal, young and trendy granny there’s been no one like her at all,” royals writer Robert Lacy, who also consults onthe Netflix seriesThe Crown, told PEOPLE about Carole.

Michael Francis Middleton

Michael Middleton attends day two of Royal Ascot 2024 on June 19, 2024 in Ascot, England.Mark Cuthbert/UK Press/Getty

Mark Cuthbert/UK Press/Getty

Michael Francis Middletonwas born on June 23, 1949, in Leeds. Before his daughter became a member of the royal family, Michael had his own connections to aristocracy through his family: his grandmother,Olive Middleton, had a family textiles fortune and would host members of the British royal family at her manor in Leeds, while Michael’s father,Peter Middleton, wasPrince Philip’sfirst officer during a two-month flying tour of South America in the 1960s, perThe Telegraph.

After attending Clifton College and the University of Surrey, Michael entered flight school to become a pilot like his father — however, he pivoted to ground crew and worked for British Airways as a flight dispatcher. It was there that he met his future wife, Carole, and the two wed in June 1980.

Hiscareer took them to Amman, Jordan, where they lived in the mid-1980s, before returning to England to raise their three children in Bucklebury. Shortly after their move to the British village, Carole launched Party Pieces in 1987 — and within a year, Michael gave up his job in aviation to join the family business full-time, according toThe Telegraph.

“My husband and I were young and a little inexperienced, but very enthusiastic, so we didn’t worry too much,” Carole toldSheerLuxein 2022. “We took any early setbacks in our stride and had a lot of fun building the business together.”

rince William, Catherine Middleton, and her father Michael Middleton at Westminster Abbey during the Royal Wedding in 2011.Dominic Lipinski - WPA Pool/Getty

Dominic Lipinski - WPA Pool/Getty

When Kate wed Prince William in 2011, Michael walkedhis daughter down the aisleat Westminster Abbey. Since then, he and his wife have frequently joined royal events, includingKing Charles’ coronation,Royal Ascot in June 2024andKate’s annual royal Christmas concertheld at Westminster Abbey.

Kate Middleton’s Siblings

Pippa Middleton Matthews

Pippa Middleton attends the Heart Hero Awards 2023 on December 06, 2023 in London, England.Jo Hale/WireImage

Jo Hale/WireImage

Pippa grew up with a talent for athletics, attending Marlborough College on a sports scholarship. That passion for fitness continued throughout her adult life, with Pippa participating in extreme sporting events such as the gruelingOtillo Swim-Run Championshipin Sweden and the Inferno ski race in Switzerland. In an interview withHOKAin 2021, she revealed she has more fitness challenges on her “bucket list,” including the London and New York City marathons and the Cape Town Cycle Tour.

“I try not to be too sensitive about things because it’s a bit of life I have to deal with,” Pippa told theDaily Mailin 2016 about her life in the public eye. “But I would be lying if I said it didn’t affect me.”

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Pippa Middleton in the Royal Box on Centre Court during day twelve of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships on July 13, 2019 in London, England.Karwai Tang/Getty

Karwai Tang/Getty

Pippa and Matthewswed in May 2017, with Princess Charlotte and Prince George aspart of the wedding party. The couple are now the parents ofthree children: sonArthur(born October 2018) and daughtersGrace(born March 2021) andRose(born June 2022). Despite their close ties to the royal family, Pippa prefers to keep both hermarriage and her children out of the public eye.

Professionally, Pippa holds degrees in English literature and physical education, sport and physical literacy. She is the author of the 2012 party planning bookCelebrate: A Year of Festivities for Families and Friendsand is involved in charitable organizations, serving as anambassador for the British Heart Foundationsince 2014.

James William Middleton

Jeff Spicer/Getty

Joining big sisters Kate and Pippa, James William Middleton was born on April 15, 1987 in Reading, England.

In addition to his dogs (James is currently the proud parent to six pups: Mabel, Zulu, Inka, Luna, Nala and Isla), the youngest Middleton sibling is alsopassionate about mental health. Herevealed his struggle with depression, which he called “the cancer of the mind,” in an op-ed for theDaily Mailin 2019 and has also been public about his therapy work — sharing that his sisters Kate and Pippa have evenattended therapy sessions with him.

“They’ve always been there during difficult times and they were at my side during the hardest of times as well,” he said of his older sisters.

James Middleton and Alizee Thevenet attend the wedding of Lady Gabriella Windsor and Mr Thomas Kingston at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 18, 2019.Mark Cuthbert/UK Press/Getty

James returned the favor for Kate,showing his supportfor his eldest sister after she revealed her cancer diagnosis in March 2024. He shared a previously never-before-seen photograph from their childhood onInstagramalong with a sweet message of strength and solidarity.

“Over the years, we have climbed many mountains together. As a family, we will climb this one with you too ⛰️❤️,” he captioned the photo, where the two are seen wearing backpacks in front of a mountainous backdrop.

James combined his two passions — animals and mental health — when hecreated the Paw Print Fundin April 2020. The organization is dedicated to aiding animal welfare charities, such as RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), Battersea, an organization dedicated to dogs and cats, and Dogs Trust, the U.K.’s largest dog welfare charity. He is also a volunteer with Pets As Therapy, a U.K. non-profit that brings therapy animals to care homes, hospitals, hospices, schools and prisons, and plans towrite a memoir about his beloved dogElla.

James begandating French financial analyst Alizeé Thevenetin 2019, and the coupletied the knotin the south of France on Sept. 11, 2021. They welcomed their first child,a son named Inigo, in October 2023.

In his 2024 memoir,Meet Ella: The Dog Who Changed My Life, James opened up about his struggles with his mental health. He talked about his family’s therapy sessions that took place during his battle with depression in an interview withHello!.

James told the outlet that therapy was “easier” for Pippa and Kate, since Carole and Michael were left wondering “where had they gone wrong?”

“And that’s why it was so important to have somebody else in the room to explain: ‘No, this isn’t you that’s done this to your son. This is a combination of multiple things. It stems back to childhood but there’s not a single trigger point,’ " he said.

He added, “Once I started to understand a bit myself, and then for my sisters to understand it, who could then also speak to my parents … Now, it’s something that can be discussed at the dinner table. It’s helped us as a family – not just me individually, but as a unit – to be more open.”

Kate Middleton’s Brother-in-Law and Sister-in-Law

James Spencer Matthews

Pippa Middleton and James Matthews after their wedding at St Mark’s Church in 2017.UK Press Pool/UK Press/Getty

UK Press Pool/UK Press/Getty

Pippa’s husband,James Spencer Matthews, was born on Aug. 21, 1975 to David Matthews, a luxury car dealer and hotelier, and Jane Matthews, an artist. He has two younger brothers: Michael, who died in 1999 at the age of 22 while climbing Mount Everest, and Spencer, who appeared on the popular television showMade in Chelsea.

In addition to his finance career, Matthews will inherit the Scottish title of Laird of Glen Affric when his father dies, and Pippa will become Lady Glen Affric. The couple, who were married in 2017, share three children together: Arthur, Grace and Rose.

Alizeé Thevenet

Alizee Thevenet and James Middleton attend the Bulgari gala dinner to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and unveil the ‘Jubilee Emerald Garden’ on July 1, 2022 in London, England.David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty

David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty

James’ wife,Alizeé Thevenet, was born in France but raised in six different countries: Germany, Indonesia, Chile, France, Belgium and England, her father, the late Jean-Gabriel Thevenet, told theDaily Mailin 2019.

She eventually settled in the U.K. as a young adult, receiving her master’s degree in investment and finance from Queen Mary, University of London. It was in London, at the South Kensington Club, where Thevenet would first cross paths with James Middleton in the summer of 2018 (after his dog, Ella, approached the financial analyst).

“Little did I know, I had just met my future wife, all thanks to Ella,” James toldThe Telegraphabout their first encounter. “If I hadn’t trusted Ella, I wouldn’t have brought her to the South Kensington Club and she wouldn’t have been able to say hi to the woman who became my fiancée.”

Alizee Middleton and James Middleton attend the switch on of Bulgari’s iconic Serpenti Christmas lights on November 12, 2021 in London, England.David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty

In January 2019, the two were spottedvacationing in St. Bartswith James’ sister Pippa and her husband. By May of that same year, they made their relationship Instagram official. They became engaged in October 2019 and, after postponing their wedding two times, were married in September 2021 in the south of France. At the nuptials, Thevenetwore her mother-in-law Carole’s wedding dress.

“I tried on her wedding dress and fell in love with it,” the French financial analyst revealed toHello!“It fitted me perfectly and was exactly what I wanted. It always troubled me that wedding dresses are only worn once, so it was amazing to give such a beautiful dress a second lease of life.”

In July 2023, Jamesrevealed that Thevenet was expectingtheir first child. Their son, Inigo, was born in October of the same year.

source: people.com