This is very, very interesting. A woman named Joanne Callen has given a lengthy and fascinating interview to The Daily Mail, all about her godmother Carole Middleton. Callen and Middleton are related – Joanne’s mother and Carole are first cousins, which makes Joanne and Duchess Kate second cousins. Apparently, the families grew up together and were very, very close but that all changed when Kate married William. Joanne says Carole phased out her peasant relations, even going so far as to cut out shady Uncle Gary Goldsmith. You can read the full piece here and here are the most interesting parts:
Few will have heard of the Callens, but they and the Middletons are close family. Or, rather, they were. Because now it seems that some in Joanne’s family are deeply disappointed with their more illustrious cousins – and not only because the wedding was the last they ever saw of Kate. In the eyes of Joanne, at least, Carole has become too grand to care about Joanne’s family.
Invitations to family occasions have gone unanswered, elderly relatives remain unvisited. Carole no longer bothers with her godchild. The Callens have never even met Prince George.Joanne’s mother, Alison, is Carole Middleton’s first cousin. So close were the pair that they grew up almost as sisters. And later their families shared Christmases and holidays. Yet in the three years since the wedding, Joanne says, the Middletons have steadily cut her side of the family adrift. Carole’s colourful brother Gary, her only sibling, might well sympathise. Because, according to Joanne, he too has now been so comprehensively ‘dropped’, that his sister refuses to be seen in his company.
‘When I was a child Carole was really good to me,’ she explains. ‘She was a very good mother, a lovely godmother, and I liked her. But she has always been a social climber and now I feel she is snobbish. She behaves as if we are not good enough for her now – so she does not need to respond to us or have any care. At the end of the day, I’m not sure what the word goddaughter means any more. Carole doesn’t reply to invitations and doesn’t turn up at any family events. She claims that she won’t go anywhere where Gary is but I think she is just making excuses. The real reason is that she is above us now. We’re not in her social circle. It’s as if we are not good enough now and she’s embarrassed by us. She is now even grander than the Queen.’
Joanne continues: ‘I was so excited when George was born. I watched Kate leaving the hospital looking lovely and have read about him in lots of newspapers and magazines. But none of the family has met him and we have barely seen Carole since the wedding.’
But it is the way Carole has behaved towards Joanne’s grandparents, Ruth 81 and Ivor, 86, who live barely 30 miles away from her in the suburban town of Ruislip, Middlesex, that she seems to find particularly upsetting. Joanne says Carole has twice promised to introduce the grandparents – Carole’s aunt and uncle – to George but they still have not seen him. In the run-up to last Christmas, Carole rang Ruth and offered to send a car to pick them up. Ruth promptly went out to buy a present for George, but the car never came.
‘Carole said a car would pick them up in the next couple of weeks to meet Prince George,’ says Joanne. ‘She said that she would call later and organise a time and a date. So my grandmother went out and bought George an outfit. When I asked her later if she had met George, she made an excuse for them saying, “They must be very busy.” But I felt terrible for her because she had gone out and bought a gift for him and was so excited about meeting him – not because he was Prince George but because he was family. I still feel sad thinking of them sitting there waiting for the call with the present all wrapped up waiting for them. Then Christmas came and it obviously wasn’t going to happen. Our family is deeply saddened. There is no need to upset anybody. She should certainly have a good deal more respect for Ruth and Ivor.’
‘I suppose Carole may feel that the Palace doesn’t want her to see her wider family regularly now she is grandmother to the future King. Perhaps she is complying with what she thinks is their wish but it doesn’t make it easier.’
It is not just Carole’s behaviour towards her aunt and uncle, Ruth and Ivor, that has caused offence. When Joanne’s sister Catherine celebrated her wedding at the 18th Century Hampton Court House in Surrey last month, none of the Middletons attended or sent presents.
Joanna also tells a long story about how Carole didn’t want her brother, Gary Goldsmith (who financed most of the Middleton adventures before the royal wedding), to sit with the family during the wedding. In case you think that Joanne is just a grumpy relative cashing in on some tenuous royal connection, she details how close she was to the Middleton family and it really does sound like they were a very intertwined and close-knit group. But no more.
Does Carole think she’s “grander than the Queen”? Eh. I think Carole is a massive social climber who sunk lots of money, time and effort into the massive gamble of getting her daughter to land Prince William. And the gamble paid off after nine years and all of the Middletons are reveling in their rewards. And yes, I believe that Carole totally cut out her peasant relations. But what stuns me is that Dodgy Uncle Gary is no longer welcome around the Middletons. None of this would have been possible without Gary – I’ve long believed he financed a major part of the Middletons’ lifestyle and Kate’s pursuit of William.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.
Middletons always rub me the wrong way, but what was the point of this female going to the Daily Mail? This only makes the Daily Mail the winner, and that is never a good thing.
While I think it’s awful to disrespect old people like that, I don’t like the cousin who runs to the press to complain about her famous relatives behaviour.
And I don’t know if the Royal Family has something to say about who is going to meet Prince George.
While we don’t know the whole story, I understand how hurtful it can be when family members cut you out of their life. I’ll just share example from my own life. For the last couple of years my parents, sister and I haven’t been invited to Christmas Eve or the traditional Christmas lunch by my uncle, while the rest of the family has been invited. Official, the excuse is lack of space though that wasn’t a problem in the past. My mother is very ill and can be difficult to deal with, but she adores her brother. I have never much like him but it is still hurtful to be excluded, especially knowing that we probably never will be invited to Christmas again. And it is hard to see my mother sad about being excluded by the brother she adores (he has even stopped calling on her birthday).
While I question to decision to tell the story to the press, I do understand and symphatize with this woman’s feelings. It is not only her, but family members that she cares about that has been snubbed and hurt by Carole Middleton’s actions. We don’t know if Carole’s motives are snobbish, but I don’t doubt that she has hurt people in her family by the snubbing. Because of my own experience I have a hard time not judging her for this. However, I am fully aware of why I judge her and maybe I’m not fair to her in this. It is just that this woman’s story really struck a chord with me and I do believe this story, especially because this I had never heard of this part of the Middleton family. Thus it seems likely that they hadn’t courted the press to promote themselves like Carole Middleton and her children.
I find the whole thing rather sad.
I’m in total agreement, ArtHistorian. Total. And if we lived closer you and your mom would be welcome at my house for Christmas.
This woman, while sealing her own fate by talking to the DM, is upset on her grandparent’s behalf. I would be too, although I don’t think I’d have gone to the Daily Mail. 🙂
I absolutely appreciate where she’s coming from, but I can’t get behind the decision to allow the Daily Mail to suck the marrow, with relish, from the bones of her family beef.
bluehare,
Thanks for the sweet sentiment.
I think that this is a story that people quickly will jump on the bandwagon and judging the persons involved, taking sides. I judge too, but I also just wanted to put it into perspective. I don’t think that this side of the family is grasping for their 15 minutes of fame – if they were, they would have courted the media from the wedding and onwards. While airing dirty laundry in public is never a good thing, I do believe that the decision to speak to the press comes from a place of disappointment and hurt. And the Middletons’ airs and graces after the wedding makes the article’s charge of snobbishness and crass social-climbing very believable IMO. Sadly, it isn’t uncommon from people who manage to climb a step up the social ladder to ditch friends and family that belong to the class they climbed up from.
ArtHistorian,
I’m so sorry about your mother and the way your uncle is treating her. You truly learn who your friends are when you’re sick. Some people just can’t handle it, and put their own discomfort ahead of the sick person’s feelings. Your uncle should be ashamed of himself.
GoodNames…
Thanks. However, she can be extremely difficult to get along with, partly because her illness magnifies her less than stellar personality traits – I’m her daughter and I love her, even though I also find it hard to deal with her. However, we were invited to my grand-mother’s 96th birthday this weekend, so that’s something.
Regarding my uncle, I don’t like him, never have so I was surprised how hurtful it was to be excluded. That’s why I symphatize with Carole’s goddaughter. It must be even more hurtful if they were close in the past.
I felt sorry for the extended family when I read this. Particularly for the older folks. The young’uns can blow off the non-response from the Midds but the old folks (if the relationships were good) should have been allowed to hold and pass the baby around.
I even feel sorry for Gary (the brother) if he is not okay with being socially kicked to the curb.
I don’t think the Midds should be apologetic per se 4 having ambitions. BUT it’s not what u do but how u do it IMO.
I agree with you both! Surely this interview would only sour the relationship even more, right? It’s so weird, so I don’t know what the goddaughter was hoping to accomplish by talking to the Daily Mail.
It’s sounds as if there isn’t a relationship to sour.
After miranda kerr`s family spoke out to not having seen flynn for over a year suddenly miranda and her son flew to australia a week after. They might try to do the same here, knowing the relationship is over anyways, publicly shaming them into letting them see george
She had probably given up on having any relationship at all.
Agree, Charlotte.
Me too, Charlotte.
I take the good intentions of any DM interview with a pinch of salt, but frankly I’d say the Middletons may have shown creditably sharp instincts here, given this display of pique. (I imagine there’d have been weekly ‘exclusives’ from Ruislip had they had free access to from day one. It all sounds like a Dickens tale of disappointed expectations)
None of that is by way of dismissing the hurts that families inflict upon each other….but again, cousinship is not sisterhood. I too grew up with my first cousin but time and circumstances easily alter that relationship in a way the closer bonds can resist. I hope this story fizzles out, anyway.
Or the DM sought her out. Anything to remind Carole of ‘her place’, i.e., not royal.
Well she didn’t even try to defend herself, she straight up said that her family doesn’t approve of her running to the press. But she said the main reason is because of how Carole has treated her aunt and uncle (this girls grandparents), which I get. Some people need to be publicly shamed in order to get it and since this family has already been phased out, no harm done to them, right?
And it rains in England… Ok Captain Obvious!
+100
Honest question: is this godparent business that serious in the UK? Does Carole owe this grown woman something?
My godparents no longer offer spiritual and moral guidance to my grown a$$, but I do get cash money on my birthdays. Am I being ripped off?
No: it’s not that serious. But you would kinda expect your godparents to continue in your life even into adulthood – like um… extra aunties and uncles. Having said that, most godparents actually ARE aunties and uncles. I have two aunts and one uncle as my godparents, for example. The Sixlets don’t have godparents as such, what with us all being atheists, but we had naming parties for them and nominated guardians-come-mentors – my brother, Mr Sixer’s sister, and an old friend.
I didn’t know godparents were supposed to be religious. My godmother, is in fact, supposed to take care of me (well, when I was a minor) and all my needs (and my twin brother’s) in case anything ever happened to my parents. My godmother is religious and such, but I don’t think there was ever any kind of ceremony or religious reason for choosing her (my mom isn’t religious AT ALL)….she was chosen because when we spent time together (she was a family friend) I would scream and cry if she ever left.
And I would be extremely hurt if, at some point, my godmother stopped talking to me, and started avoiding me. I don’t think it matters what age you are. Heck, I just spent almost two months down in TN (where she lives), and I spent two weeks with her. That sort of bond doesn’t (isn’t) supposed to go away once you hit eighteen.
I think that the goddaughter snitched because she was fed up. She might’ve gotten paid to do so, etc–but I can’t really say I blame her. I would be extremely hurt–and this isn’t even a normal situation. I’d say that all relatives within spitting distance of the Middleton’s have been called for dirt, etc for years.
Maybe she finally said something because she knows that Carole isn’t coming back. Even if William and Kate ever divorce—Carole will still be the grandmother of the Third in Line to the throne. That’s not something that is severed by divorce or death. People know her name because of it. Even if Carole lost all her money, William and Kate divorced, etc–I still see her as that crazy old lady who is in a dingy little house, going ‘Ah, yes…this time of day is when Elizabeth and I, ahem–the QUEEN, as you call her, sip tea..’ or something along those lines.
In the UK, godparents are chosen when you christen a child – clue’s in the name, I guess! The Sixlets weren’t christened, since we’re atheists, so no godparents. My parents are atheists too, but in the ancient days of yore when I were a wee thing, most people got their kids christened, whether they were religious or not. Now, not so much.
Sixer, Were godparents more important in the UK in the past? One reason I ask is that short biographies of Brits (even the youngish non-aristos) seem to always always include where the person was christened.
Oh, well I’m in the US–so for my family, at least, the godparents do stuff with you. Like my godmother sends me clothes every year, christmas/birthday presents, we talk on the phone, and whenever I go visit her she always makes me go shopping with her (*cringe* I hate shopping), and we just hang out and have fun. She’s like another aunt. Or mother.
@MinnFinn
I just think that christening used to be more of a rite of passage than it is now. And it’s traditional to have 2-3 godparents chosen when you get your child christened. Irreligious people like my parents still got their children christened and got married in churches because it was “what you did”. These days, the UK is SO secular, particularly among the white majority, a larger and larger number of people don’t bother.
I have a large extended family – 13 sets of aunts and uncles, of which 3 are my godparents. Aside from being a bit closer to them than to my other aunts and uncles, and a bit more spoiled by them at birthdays and Christmas and whathaveyou, they never actually fulfilled any godparent-y duties. Because, presumably, nobody involved believed in God. I think people chose godparents in the same way they chose their bridesmaids: like a compliment to someone you’re close to.
ETA: also, remember we have an established church in the UK. So, historically-speaking, there are huge swathes of official records for births, christenings, marriages and deaths, that are not only official, but also church records. That might be why you see it on internet bios – it’s easy to scrape the data.
The other thing is back in the days of yore people didn’t live as long and it wasn’t uncommon for kids to be orphaned. Would your god parents step in then?
My understanding today is a godparent is supposed to help the child with spiritual development. My poor nephews are a testament to the terrible job we did. 🙂
@bluhare
IIRC, when we were minors, my parents’ will stipulated one of my aunts (my godmother but not my brother’s) to take us in and manage the money until we came of age, should they both die. That was separately agreed with her and not really anything to do with being a godparent. Likewise, my will stipulates my oldest friend to take care of the Sixlets – something all agreed with him.
Sixer – The official record of christening in the official church – got it. I hadn’t thought of that. And until not that long ago (on both sides of the pond) children had better future prospects if they were not born out of wedlock and thus another motivation to document christenings.
OTOH the stigma of being born OOW did not apply to kids with a royal parent.
I wasn’t in the US when I was assigned(?) my godparents, but it is still a station where it means the same. Although it’s done without the same meaning and more just because, now.
I think it depends on how what your family’s religion is and how deeply they follow it.
Godparent is a purely religious/honorific role. Guardians are the legal term for care-givers if something happens to the parents. In the US at least, being a godparent does not in any way convey any legal guardianship over a child. Years ago, my uncle and his wife selected me as a godparent for my much-younger cousin’s baptism, assuming that I would also become the guardian if something happened to them. We had to explain that they still needed to make out a will and assign me and the godfather (another older cousin) as legal guardians.
One of my godmothers is my aunt, and I am not particularly closer to her than other aunts. The other is a woman my parents were good friends with at the time, but I think I have only met her twice.
I have an aunt and uncle that are also my godparents. I am much closer to them than my other aunts and uncles. More gifts, more time spent, and they did fulfill the role of spiritual guidence.
It really depends on the family.
In the case of my family, my brother and I got 2 each, one of whom we never ever met! The others were aunts and an uncle….and none ever showed any interest whatsoever in our development or pastoral needs, notably when our father died very young. We were a pretty close, all Catholic family in those days, but I guess it shows that being a godparent is very often quite meaningless, even with the ‘god’ bit removed. Idin’t feel we were hard done by, just that the whole notion is a very varying thing.
I’m glad for the explanation, because I was starting to feel guilty about not being involved enough in my godson’s life–he’s English, and while we rarely get to see each other, we are in touch, and I’m in touch with his parents and brother and sister. Sounds like I’m doing okay, even if I haven’t sent him a gift in years (he’s 25 now).
I never really knew either of my godparents; I’ve met each of them a time or two, but was never in regular contact with them. I’m not even sure I know their full names at this point, particularly my godmother.
I am very close to my goddaughter, and she’s an adult now. I can’t imagine cutting her out of my life. I never gave her any kind of religious advice or anything, but I’ve tried to always be there for her and we talk often and I’ve taken her on a few spa trips. I think it says a lot about Carole that she just cut ties with old friends because she thinks she’s the big society player now. Yuck.
Yes, I think it’s that simple. They have signet rings now. Their relatives don’t. I can’t imagine abandoning close family ties for a mess of pottage.
Hmmm
I am stumped by the signet ring thing…..any Tom, Dick, or Harry can wear a signet ring…..it’s not as if they are necessary for imprinting waxen seals on secret documents!
Newsflash! Carole Middleton is a big social climber. We’ve known that for years. The girls weren’t dubbed the “Wisteria Sisters” for no reason.
Looking back to the social climbers I saw in high school (or for that matter all the people who brown-nose and jockey for position), they seem to be motivated by fears & insecurities from within. Then, after reaching their desired position, they count it as their self-respect – they’ve won. Very strange how people are always seeking to be better than another…in myriads of ways.
Seriously. A “tell all” should actually tell us something we don’t know.
Ok, and to make sure Carole never wants to see them again the goddaughter does this.
This.
My hunch is that DM paid her for this tell-all interview.
Exactly!!!! Good going, lady.
I think CM already made it clear from years of ignoring communications from that side of the family that CM was never going to acknowledge them ever again anyways, so there was nothing to lose.
Sad if this is true but the Middletons need to go somewhere and sit down, especially when they were sitting TWO WHOLE SECTIONS away from a Will-and-Kate-occupied Royal Box at Wimbledon this year.
Perhaps the Middletons were seated so far away at Wimbledon, to impress upon us the specialness of Will & Kate. Social climbing indeed – I think that is how they construct the magnitudes of royalty – which is the highest social construction of all…lick the ground, kiss ass, and feel terribly grateful for their crumbs.
I think that social climbing is everywhere, but it is just so apparent when there are royals, and it looks almost medieval to me.
I do suspect Carole thought more doors would be open for her socially after Kate’s marriage, but the invitations never came.
It was speculated they were seated higher up so more shots of just Will and Kate could be taken. Since Carole and Pippa have both been seated closer I think this was simple PR. William was there so they took the opportunity for the shots.
Nothing new about Carole Middleton, but I still think that giving an interview about it makes the goddaughter look bad as well.
Ditto.
It is important that we respect the reputations of those in the aristocracy. Where would we without them?
They couldn’t be without us, buying in to their specialness.
Wolfpup, I agree. Royalty and aristocrats are only special if us “commoners” believe them to be so. But, from my perspective, the issue is about family, We just don’t do that (air our dirty laundry) where I come from, so to speak.
Oleanna: everyone without peerage titles are commoners, royalty or not. This makes Harry, B, E, Anne commoners, just like you and me. William stopped being a commoner when he was made a duke on his wedding day.
Thanks for explaining the aristocracy bit, Lak. I think I read something about this a few years back about Harry, but it really didn’t register. Totally weird how this peerage system works.
Nitpick: They’re actually first cousins, once removed.
Anyhow… I think the Middletons are happy as pigs in mud right where they are. They have personal wealth, they are parents to the future Queen and grandparents to the future King. They get to move in “quality” circles, now. So, yeah. I think she’s probably telling the truth!
As I was reading the article, I couldn’t remove the image of Mrs Hyacinth Buckett (excuse me Bouquet!) out of my head.
God, I love that show. My youngest is a Violet 😉
“Buckett Residence, Lady of the House Speaking.” (on the white slimline telephone)
I love that show!
Haha! Perfect!
Violet, with the Mercedes, swimming pool and room for a pony?
And if Bruce wants to wear Violet’s evening gown, well, let him dear. Maybe Sheridan would like to borrow it too?
Who WASN’T thinking of the hand-painted periwinkles?
Character for character it seems like a perfect comparison.
The actress who plays Ms. Bucket has more class than the Middletons ever will have. I also love that show. I recommend Keeping Up Appearances to all of my friends who are new to British comedy.
Kibbles
Don’t forget Mr. Bean and Black Adder. Or that show with the basement department store. Hilarious!
I think the store show is Are You Being Served?
I’ll also throw in a recommendation for As Time Goes By with Dame Judi Dench. More gentle and sweet but has funny moments.
My Hero with Ardal O’Hanlon is funny/weird.
Looks like uncle Gary is coming to Carole’s defense now. So yeah, whatever this cousin’s motive was, all it may have accomplished is The Middletons never speaking to them again. Carole probably would have no problem doing that and Kate is too “busy” ty o care about such things. She’s way too “important” now. *Side eye*
This is the thing that would annoy me about being famous. There’s always going to be that distant, pesky relative or former acquaintance/friend who feels as if you owe them some part of your new life. The cousin is acting as if she and Kate were besties of cousins or something. Although it would be great if Kate had other relatives in her age group that she was close too, I can understand and see wnow why she doesn’t. I’m begining to think that the money/prestigious role hasn’t so much affected The Middletons but has affected those around t hem. Now their friends and family want to me upgraded to.
Totally agree. Everyone else wants the ‘upgrade’ and think you’re full of yourself if you don’t acquiesce. I doubt this woman would care very much if she hadn’t met ‘plain old something-something cousin removed Georgie’ vs caring terribly that she has yet to meet ‘future King of England Prince George.’ And going crying to a newspaper is completely ill-advised.
Good point. They may have stopped being close after the girls reached high school. That photo that accompanied the DM article may well have been one of the last few family get-togethers.
How does the whole “once removed” stuff work? I never knew.
Ok – the “removed” part refers to generational differences. So my mother’s first cousins are also MY first cousins, “once removed” because they are my mother’s age. My grandparents’ first cousins are also my first cousins, but “twice removed” because they are two generations from me.
First cousins share a grandparent, second cousins share a great grandparent, third cousins share a great-great grandparent, and so on.
I know, it’s so confusing. I thought “once removed” means that they are from a family that isn’t related by blood or one of the parents isn’t.
I can’t stand this “once/twice removed” term. It confuses me endlessly.
My husbands family does this being very waspy anglo/sa. My parents siblings children are my 1st cousins. The children of those same 1st cousins are my neices nephews. I am their aunt/uncle. Given relation to the relation of your elders determines your title. I’ve always thought to say “removed” was a backhanded way of saying you’re not really family.
Ha! I don’t use the term IRL, but I’m a genealogy buff and those terms are used NONSTOP for that kind of thing. I generally just refer to all my cousins as just cousins, with no distinction. If you start saying things like “second cousin, twice removed” peoples eyes just glaze over.
The “removed” is really just a genealogical term — it’s not a slap. I come from a huge extended family — but we only do the “removed” thing when we’re talking family history. Otherwise, we do aunt/uncle/cousin regardless of the actual relationship in the family tree.
I have a second cousin who is the same age as my dad — we’re technically on the same “level” in the family tree, but my second cousin is 40 years older than me. My dad and his cousin were first cousins once removed, but because of the big generation gap, were born a few months apart and were raised almost like brothers. Since my second cousin is like a member of the immediate family, he’s “Uncle” to us kids. However, his sister, who we were friendly with, but no so close, was “Cousin”. (By her choice, the one time I accidentally called her “aunt” as a kid, knowing that she was my “uncle’s” sister, she got all weirded out and corrected me.)
Malificent,
Yep. I have a second or third cousin twice removed, and so on. However, we never use that term. I simply call her my cousin – and I’m much closer to her than my actual first cousins. She’s also really close to my dad, who isn’t related to her at all. They do genealogy together.
FLORC: I’m with you.
I’m constantly asking friends to re-explain it to me because I don’t get it. The 10% of me that is forever non British doesn’t understand ‘X removed’ or ‘step’ relations no matter how often it is explained to me.
Malificent
My inlaws do use that term in real life and to point how who is related and how in private or for introductions. And it might be how my mother in-law is, but she uses it in a very backhanded insult kind of way. I’ve always associated it as such because of that.
And I am an aunt to some 2nd cousins/nephews that have 30 or so years on me. It’s fun. I make them call me thea 🙂
LAK
Thank You! I feel less foolish for not understanding it still after many many times of it being explained.
My dad’s family is very WASPy and we do this. However I think it is a WASP thing in terms of being proud of your family and obsessed about geneology. It is certainly not a backhanded thing at all. We hang out with all our first, second, first cousin once-removed cousins all the time. We all consider ourselves cousins, it is just a way of describing the family tree to bewildered outsiders when asked.
“Removed” is one of those things that my brain simply can’t grasp. I think I’ll stick to first, second, third cousins etc.
Wren33
Being proud and being prideful I think is where the seperation appears. I can only really speak of this family. The snobby behavior is thick. If there’s a cousin from 1 side’s 1 member that isn’t up to par there’s that snobbiness that is associated with WASPs.
And this isn’t to all WASPs. It’s just 1 WASP from a WASPy family.
It really depends on the family.
Why give an interview about it?
Carole should be careful about alienating Uncle Gary.. I have a feeling he’s something of a loose canon and knows where all the bones are buried.
No matter what she does, there’s always going to be that one relative who will use the opportunity to make some money off of their relation. Regular families have the same problems, only on a smaller scale – there is always someone whom you don’t see that often, who will feel jealous and insist you should share your success because you are “family.” Hate those self-entitled aunties and cousins once removed.
I read the story, but then I read an interview with Gary in which he detailed the royal wedding. The two accounts are completely at odds; either he’s saving face or she’s stirring the pot and leaping to conclusions. He claims to have switched seats with a flower girl’s mother so she could watch her daughter, and he ended up near the Beckhams… but Joanna claims he didn’t have a seat at all?
I don’t doubt that Carole is a social climber who couldn’t drop her peasant associations fast enough… but honestly, if Joanna cared at all about maintaining a family connection, she wouldn’t have gone to the media with this story. It basically proves that Carole was right to cut them out, because they would’ve blabbed secrets the second they felt slighted.
Protect those royals! Plebs feelings don’t matter – they can be squished!
Yeah, that’s fair (if you were referring to “she was right to cut them out”)… but honestly, I have had family members who were destructive and deceptive and vindictive, and I don’t always think blood is enough to keep people like that around.
In this case, it sounds like the Middletons are just as poisonous and even more entitled, and I probably wouldn’t mind the slight. However, Joanna’s wording reeeeeally reminded me of the twisted “woe is me”/”us vs. them” crap I’ve heard from my own estranged family members, conflicting versions of stories and all. So I’m having trouble feeling sorry for her.
I love the article. It shows Carole for the cold hearted climber she is. This was not a spur of the moment interview/article. IMO, This was well thought out ,beforehand, carefully chosen, point by point detailed selected by a behind the scenes collaboration between various family members.
This lady’s mom is Carole’s First Cousin they grew up like sisters, Carole’s brother is Gary. The god daughter’s mother is Carole’s first cousin, these are real family members, who were all quite close to Carole before William married Kate. Especially Gary. Carole used Gary’s money entertaining in his home to assist in wooing William by opening his VILLA in Ibiza. Gary gave them access to yachts for Kate and William and the Middleton’s, all for Carole to portray to William the image that the Middleton family had a family Villa in Spain. Gary’s home, access to yachts, & money was used to entertain William and the Middleton clan during the entire course of the dating process. William the future King of England spent nights in Gary’s home, with the entire Middleton clan, having happy, fun dinners, William playing Dee Jay in Gary’s music room and now he’s been dumped! I don’t blame Gary for being angry. Which I believe he is. I believe this woman is the voice and face who was put forward to expose Carole, but it was a consensus decided by several within the family, including Gary. He wants to put sister on notice perhaps, that he and other family members on Carole’s side is not going to play nice anymore.
Remember in the video Gary said they were planning on THE Goldsmith Wing in the Palace once Kate became Queen? I personally believe that is Exactly what Carole use to say to him, to get him to continually to be part of the wooing of William and to pour his money into the effort , which he did everytime the family came to Ibiza. Kate even ran to Gary’s house during the breakup to get her head together for a bit, but now he’s been cut off and he’s not a happy camper. IMO
This won’t end well for Carole, because despite her belief that she’s royal, which I believe she thinks she is…what she doesn’t realize is that the Royal Family does not give a hoot about her and will watch her fall and not life a finger to protect her if Someone ever exposes anything scandalous concerning her business. I think Gary knows a lot ,Carole does not want told and this article was someone’s way of putting her on notice, it’s time to make nice.
You’re making a lot of large assumptions here.
Where’s the facts?
… except Gary has never said anything but good things about Carole. Long after the wedding, he said these rumors were fabricated and that the Middletons actually apologized for the bad press he got because of Kate’s fame.
And according to the linked DM article, Gary wasn’t even assigned a reserved seat at W&K’s wedding & had to sit further back than these cousins mentioned in this article.
I see posters saying it’s just a god-family issue, but the DM article says that they were much closer than that. CM & Joanne’s mother were each other’s bridesmaids, J’s father is Kate’s godfather and again, CM & J’s mom grew up with each other, almost like sisters, and used to go to family events & holidays together as adults.
Also, the DM article mentions another occasion when CM rang up J’s grandparents (CM’s aunt & uncle) to offer another meeting that never transpired because CM said she had to work & if they wanted to meet with Kate, then all the inconvenience was to be on the elderly couple’s side, which they couldn’t do because of their aged health.
I can understand why Joanne would be upset that CM broke her promise to send a car to J’s grandparents (CM’s aunt & uncle) during the Christmas holidays while the latter got all dressed up, holding a wrapped present waiting for CM’s car to pick them up but with no phone call from CM to give them an update that a car was not coming. How does CM offer to send them a car then not call them to let them know she had changed her mind about it? Very mean & insensitive.
I believe CM does think that cutting out all the ‘peasants’ from her social circle would ingratiate herself with the RF. I think the RF couldn’t care less about whether or not CM cuts off all her relatives. CM could have at least returned messages to her relatives whenever there were communications and invites but to just ignore them is snotty. The DM article says that when J’s mother invited CM & Kate to J’s sister’s wedding, CM didn’t even send a card or a present while K’s ppl sent a note saying she was too busy. And this is Kate who goes to weddings of people she seems to barely know because they’re seem to be by mostly W’s friends.
Duh. Did this person just wake up from a coma or something? The Middletons did everything they could to push Kate into Will’s path for years.
the family was very close till the day of the royal wedding. After that the Middletons had a save position and were “better”. There was no need for the “unglamorous relatives” anymore. Signet rings and an own coat of arms are more important.
Must be so exhausting to be these people, but hey why shouldn’t the lesser cousins get their 15 minutes of tacky fame too?
The convincing evidence I’ve heard to confirm how much the Midds value their newly acquired social rank is the signet rings. Help me understand, why does everyone assume Carole is behind the ‘social climbing’ and those rings and not Michael?
Good question. I don’t believe Michael is as benign as some may think. He’d have to be one of the most abjectly submissive and accommodating males in modern history to allow Carole to orchestrate her children’s lives and to continue to financially support them into their 30s.
Michael seems very go along to get along. Also, I think he and Kate are the two family members who don’t wear the signet rings.
Kate did in fact wear a signet ring when she was younger. Obviously someone in the Firm had a discreet word with her, and she no longer wears one.
Because it fits the evil, scheming, social-climbing woman trope. Jeepers, men don’t do that! The underlying sexism of the DM is always just at the surface.
Exactly. That, and fomenting arguments.
I’m an American. It’s hard to appreciate this kind of social climbing – the royals certainly are not the most entertaining bunch, to want to be a part of. Is it about money, and having people be nice to you simply by association?
I was taught that respect is something that is earned. I struggle to wrap my mind around this other mindset.
Not that we don’t have social climbers in the US, but I think a lot of the backlash the Middletons get for being “social climbers” is the notion that they are “above themselves” and don’t deserve to move in certain circles. It seems like a mix of the family going all out to insert themselves into royal circles, and a sense that they aren’t good enough to be there, which is buying into the whole concept of different classes to begin with.
Right.
Yes! This is what angers me about an essentially petty story; the hypocritical harping on about social climbing, as though everyone in Britain in 2014 should still know their place and darn well lump it.
Was gratified aspiration not the reason for the adulation of Thatcher? (Never mind her, go back much farther and see how upward mobility was inserted into our unwritten constitution in the 19th century.)
While you bought your publicly-owned council house and installed carriage-lights outside, and your neighbour did not, you considered yourself higher up the ladder. It’s the grasping for that next rung that made Britain what it was by 1990. And instead of having universal benefits (ha!) it made us all the more eagle-eyed for anyone doing better than we were, or than we thought they should be, and begrudging our neighbours what we lavish on illiterate anti-performers on reality shows.
What was that other great old show with Richard Wilson, always saying ‘I don’t believe it!!’ That’s me these days! 🙁
I understand many folks social climb everywhere, even our young ones. I’m trying to feel around for answers, so be patient with me. It seems as though social climbing in Britain is institutionalized. Is the Queen/King, House of Lords the higher class, and the House of Commons, for the common people to have a vote? The Queens likeness is everywhere (schools, government bldgs, etc.). And as there is greater power in numbers, the upper class has a better chance of meeting their goals by hanging together. They are the “haves”.
The have-nots live on bread and circuses, overly grateful for small sops, gradually perceiving the status-quo as the best possible world. The bourgeoisie is especially adept at fooling the proletariat with fringe benefits, that cause exploited people to believe that they are as free to act, and speak as their exploiters. This impedes workers who begin to perceive the status quo as the best possible world for workers and employers alike and they minimize their hardships and suffering. This serves to impede workers from forming a class dedicated to securing worker’s real needs.
What is am I getting wrong?
Gary gave use of his boat and home where Will and Kate took use of. Also, same home Gary was caught stashing drugs in to sell. Gary has played a huge role in his sister’s life and her family’s.
Cutting him out doesn’t ring true to me. Although, at least 2 other Middleton relatives have said about the same. There’s truth in this. Not complete, but truth all the same.
As far as speaking out. I think the family understands they’ve been cut off. They’re only trying to show the world the Carole they know and not the image she’s cut ties with her family to maintain.
Facts supporting my opinion. Not purely judgy and hating.
I can’t relate, I really can’t. My mother was one of seven, my father one of ten. I have aunts & uncles & cousins galore; some I haven’t even met, some I can’t even name! So not being in touch, or no longer being in touch, eh. On the other hand, maybe I can relate. At a smaller scale, family infighting has always existed no matter what your station in life.
Exactly. This woman was just trying to make a few extra bucks. The fact that they were included in the wedding says how generous the Middletons already were to them.
If she just wanted to make a few bucks, I think she’d have sold them out long ago. This is isn’t a cousin they’ve never met, their lives were closely entwined. It isn’t “generous” to invite close family to a wedding, especially if you have been guests at all of theirs.
As someone mentioned up-thread, this really reads more like a close family member who is upset that elderly family members were promised something and then treated shabbily.
@notasugarhere I don’t care how upset you are – of you are going to talk shit about your family in the media you don’t deserve their love and attention. If I were Carole I’d erase this douche’s number from my phone.
@may23 From what Joanne is saying, CM has already cut that whole side (mother’s sister’s side) from her life years ago. Joanne has nothing to lose by telling the media how badly CM treated J’s grandparents (CM’s aunt & uncle) & parents.
@anne_000 sounds like Carole figured out these leeches a long time ago, one smart lady!
They aren’t “leeches”. They aren’t out selling old photos of the family like other relatives. They were part of family activities up to and after the wedding. After the wedding they were slowly cut out of family activities, and invitations were rudely ignored instead of politely refused. The last painful cut seems to have been a promise to elderly family members that they would meet PGTips, and that promised was reneged upon. That alone makes Carole M look bad not smart.
@ notasugarhere – were you not aware that papers PAY people for giving interviews like this? Leeches they are, no doubt.
Nope, still not leeches. I am aware that people sell stories to the DM, just as I’m aware that the Middleton’s have done more than their share of sending tips to the DM and others.
This branch of the family has done nothing like that up to this point. The person who went to the DM – against her family’s wishes – did so because she is upset that her grandparents were hurt by Carole Middleton’s rudeness.
If you aren’t going to attend an event, send a reply that says so, instead of ignoring the invite. Do not promise to send a car to pick up elderly family members so they can meet a new family baby — and fail to send the car. Pretty basic, and Carole Middleton appears not to understand the basics of etiquette. Etiquette and politeness are not issues of commoner vs. aristocracy, but they are issues of class (as in classy or not).
Maybe the Middletons don’t want details of their lives, and Will, Kate and George’s lives, sold to the tabloids, Joanne.
i’m in the US – most people i know who were baptized with godparents lost touch with them by the time they were adults
I believe that Carole couldn’t manage to introduce the little prince to ALL of their relatives and I believe that she is a social climber (which is a good thing in my book) but I don’t believe she is snobbish and thinks she is bigger than the Queen. She obviously worked hard to get to where she is now and she cannot possibly keep the same lifestyle. Some things had to go. Some friends as well as some old habits and past-times. It’s only normal.
Her relative probably wanted to make some money off of her so she went out and sold this little story to the tabloid.
It’s well known that her brother funded the family business which isn’t as profitable as the PR spin would have everyone believe. Yes it was successful enough to give them a good lifestyle where they could send their children to very expensive and privileged schools but Kate herself has said in the past that money was tight when they were growing up, so clearly they made sacrifices for the future of their children. Even now they are not as wealthy as they would have people believe, didn’t William allegedly given them money to buy their massive mansion in the country! Gary is the very wealthy Middleton and whether it’s from dubious means it didn’t stop Carole from taking it.
At the end of the day your family is all that really matters; friends and partners come and go but your family are always there helping you through the bad times and celebrate with you through the good. Don’t forget them, they won’t forget about you.
A FAMILY doesn’t go to a Tabloid selling you for a nice chunk of money. Better off without them.
May23
Carole worked hard. Then she helped Kate stay fixated on a guy who openly mistreated her. During that time Kate lost loads of weight and as many note she gave up her life to live in only his. By any means is also ok in your book?.
The one story I can never get past is the time they rented a house in Scotland for New Year and William simply never showed. How could you continue to welcome him into your home and encourage your daughter to pursue him after that?
AM we all know the reason… he´s Prince Willy.
William also did nothing to defend Kate and her reputation before their marriage. A decade on-off-relationship and the media named her nicknames in a passive-aggressive way and William did nothing for his “babykins”.
Would the press do this to my daughter for 10 years i would demand that William makes a stand in public. But he lived his life, just doing what he wanted to do where he wanted and with whom he wanted while Kate and family sat on their behinds waiting for the golden Prince paying attention to them
May23
I see what you’re saying, but she didn’t have to promise two elderly people she would introduce them to the baby, then disappoint them. That was unkind, if true.
If she had promised that she had indeed the best intentions, but things sometimes get out of your control. The fact that this bunch was invited to the wedding shows how inclusive Carole is to her relatives. If my Godmother promised me something and hasn’t deliver I wouldn’t go around talking shit about her to the press.
Money, money, money – that’s what these people wanted. Not Work then Money, but Sell-Your-Family-Get-Money. They should’ve said that: we needed some cash so we used this opportunity, since our relationship with Middletons is ruined now anyway.
Oh, I completely agree it was gross to go to the press with it. And that we don’t necessarily have the whole story.
I love how you control the dialogue by posting certain commenters many many comments yet block others, even though innocuous. Not exactly freedom of speech or democracy. What does FLORC work for you.
Sometimes innocuous comments get deleted or sent to their spam folder accidentally. I think you can send them an email and they will look for you. I really don’t think they are trying to control the conversation other than to keep it from being super mean, racist, etc.. I think everyone on here has had an innocuous comment accidentally deleted – I know I have a couple of times.
it happens sometimes. Recently some of my comments were lost and it was just “she looks great in xy….” in posts about Angelina Jolie, Juliette Binoche etc.
Considering that Jolie is the Homecoming Queen on Celebitchy i don´t think it had something to do with censorship.
Did you change your nickname in the last time? I think the system automatically blocks people who change their names too often?
I’ve had it happen too. Especially if you put in a website address or too many punctuation marks.
What’s up with Gary’s shaddy business? I admit I don’t usually follow BRF gossips so I am kind of novice on the subjet. Thanks.
Agree +1M. Hazel ArtHistorian, Notsosugar, AM Linn, writers.
Carole muddleton family hangers on need to go away. Haven’t seen these famiky memebrrs hanging out in the news like caroile and her hangers on children, Waity uncle. So they seem credible considering we knew this over a decade.
If ma Carole, workless Waity doolittle all about hangers on social climbers gold and Title diggers for Waity doolittle and kids.
Ma corella would go away to a life, then maybe worthless Waity could bond with the working RF instead of hanging out at ma Buckleberry (for a grown married woman with a child), and become a respected member representing HM GB UK and Commonwealth.
Waity can’t recognize using the millions KP renovations for a good cause and opportunity to King Henry (P Harry) Birthday; instead of turning into ‘nightclub party’ , waity could turn to a serious King Harry 30th royal Black Tie affair, to raise money for P Harry charities. Oh I forgot, that must be too much serious work for workless Waity – party poo muddletons only know drunken partying and falling out of their clothes! What a waste
I understand people working hard to enter another socio-economic status for the rewards of luxury, but I don’t get the desire to be accepted in circles of people who will always consider you beneath them. What’s the point? When does Carole get to relax and enjoy her wealth if she’s so busy trying to be someone she isn’t?
You’re assuming everyone has your self-awareness. The social climbers I know enjoy lording their new status over other people who don’t have it. In their hearts, they may know that they are not really accepted by their new social class, but they can live with that as long as they can give the appearance of belonging. It has always struck me as such an odd desire, but you see it in every society, no matter how small or how large. Give me a few true friends and I’m content, but some people just need the show.
Well, like I said above, that just sounds exhausting. I have fantasies of wealth like everyone else, but in my fantasies being rich means total freedom and not giving a frak about rules. Guess Carole and I will just never agree on that point. :-p
Carole Middleton is a snobby social-climber? Shocked, shocked I say!…said no one
If Carole was MY godmother, I’d be GLAD she didn’t come around anymore.
Wasn’t Gary caught doing drugs and picking up prostitutes? Pretty sure of that. Ofcourse the would have to distance themselves from him, he means scandal and is something that you have to stay away from if you’re the mother of a future Queen consort.
Uncle Gary seems to have all the money in the family so my take is they can’t afford to get rid of him.
Mother of future Queen consort must be a pretty powerless position if you have to dump your own family.
Caught on video doing cocaine and muttering something about access to “young” female companions. Never prosecuted.
Is anyone really surprised by any of this? Either the family naysayers or the idea that the Middletons are social climbers?
What! Someone put on airs when their daughter married the heir to the British throne? I’m shocked I tell you. When your grandchild is going to be King, you are no longer climbing; you have reached the promised land.
Their grandson may have, but they haven’t.