Back in the day, Carole Middleton relished her royal connections and her entrance, through her daughter, into the highest echelon of British society. Carole and Michael Middleton got invitations to attend Royal Ascot, sit in the Royal Box at Wimbledon, go to church in Sandringham with QEII, and on and on. Those invitations started drying up after a while, and then everything fell apart last year. At first, it just looked like the Middletons’ business, Party Pieces, had collapsed under mismanagement, the pandemic and Brexit. Then, days after the sale of PP went public, we learned that the Middletons had left a trail of financial destruction in their wake, racking up over $3 million in debt and leaving ALL of their creditors holding the bag. This week, we just learned that Interpath, the insolvency firm ordered to usher Party Pieces through bankruptcy, can’t even collect payment for their services either. All of this is shameful and embarrassing, and it’s left the Middletons massively exposed as liars, frauds and grifters. It left the Princess of Wales in a compromised and powerless position as her family was politically and financially defanged. So how are the Windsors reacting to this turn of events?
The royal family has no judgments when it comes to the financial collapse of the Middletons’ party planning company, one expert says.
“No one in the royal family is embarrassed by the failure of Party Pieces,” author Christopher Andersen, who has penned bestselling books about the royals including Brothers and Wives: Inside the Private Lives of William, Kate, Harry and Megan, exclusively told Us Weekly on Thursday, April 4. Princess Kate Middleton’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, were forced to sell Party Pieces in May 2023 due to mounting debts. U.K.’s The Times reported on Monday, April 1, that the couple, who founded the company in 1987, are still struggling to come up with over $329,000 in “insolvency firm costs.”
Andersen told Us that the business failure is not indicative of the Middletons’ personal finances.
“People shouldn’t make the mistake that the Middletons are broke, because they decidedly are not. Their business went belly-up because of things entirely out of their control, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t got substantial personal assets,” he said.
Andersen pointed out that both Carole, 69, and her brother, Celebrity Big Brother star Gary Goldsmith, have built “considerable fortunes” for themselves.
“In Carole’s case, the party supply business she founded flourished for years until, like so many other businesses, it was undone by COVID. For nearly two years, nobody was giving children’s parties and the lingering effects have been devastating. The entire market for what Party Pieces was selling went straight off the end of a cliff,” he explained. Andersen told Us that given “all that is happening with the royal family at the moment,” it’s unlikely that “the Middletons’ business setbacks” are sparking concern.
“Between the king’s cancer battle and Kate’s cancer battle, the last thing they have on their minds is how much the Middletons owe their creditors,” he said. “We have to keep in mind that Carole Middleton is focusing on helping her daughter cope with what is a devastating diagnosis. The future queen has always leaned very heavily on her mother for emotional support and encouragement, and never more so than now.”
Andersen added: “I think the King in particular appreciates how important a role Carole Middleton plays in keeping her daughter’s spirits up at this crucial time.”
“People shouldn’t make the mistake that the Middletons are broke, because they decidedly are not… that doesn’t mean they haven’t got substantial personal assets.” O RLY? Who to believe, Christopher Andersen, who seems to be suggesting that the Middletons have squirreled away assets while their bankrupt business left multiple small businesses and local vendors devastated? Or James Sinclair, who bought Party Pieces and ended up confessing that the Middletons have nowhere near the kind of money people think they have? Now, the Middletons have that big manor house in Bucklebury, which was (at least partially) purchased by Prince William. Would they sell Middleton Manor? Can they sell it?
Anyway, it’s not that the Windsors have no judgment for the Middletons, it’s that the Fall of the House of Middleton is happening because the Windsors actively wanted the family’s downfall, and because the Windsors are not pulling any strings or writing any checks to protect Carole specifically. Carole overstepped and social-climbed too close to the sun, and this seems to be a very pointed punishment.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
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- Kate Middleton (M) waves to the crowd outside the Goring Hotel in London, Great Britain, 28 April 2011 together with her Sister Pippa (L) and her mother Carole. London is preparing for the royal wedding of Britain’s Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey on April 29. Photo: FRANK MAY,Image: 507285791, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO GERMANY, AUSTRIA, SWITZERLAND – NO 3RD PARTIES – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries call London + 44 (0)20 7421 6000 , New York + 1 646-329-6242 or Hamburg + 49 (0)40 530 240 5959, Model Release: no, Credit line: Frank May / DPA Picture Alliance / Avalon
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- Michael and Carole Middleton arriving for the christening of Prince Louis, the youngest son of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, London.,Image: 515593258, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR SEVEN DAYS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: – / Avalon
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- KING’S LYNN, ENGLAND – JULY 05: (L-R) Prince George of Cambridge, Michael Middleton, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, James Middleton and Carole Middleton leave the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham Estate for the Christening of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge on July 5, 2015 in King’s Lynn, England.,Image: 525454341, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Photoshot – sales@photoshot.com London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Florida: +1 239 689 1883 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: – / Avalon
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- 160660, Carole and Michael Middleton leave the Sunday church service at The Church of St. Mary Magdalene on the Queens Sandringham estate. London, United Kingdom – Sunday, January 8, 2017. UK, FRANCE, AUS, NZ, CHINA, HONG KONG, TAIWAN, SPAIN & ITALY OUT,Image: 532796847, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS, DIRECT SALES ONLY UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE IN CAPTION – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: i-Images, PacificCoastNews / Avalon
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- 160660, Carole and Michael Middleton leave the Sunday church service at The Church of St. Mary Magdalene on the Queens Sandringham estate. London, United Kingdom – Sunday, January 8, 2017. UK, FRANCE, AUS, NZ, CHINA, HONG KONG, TAIWAN, SPAIN & ITALY OUT,Image: 532796854, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS, DIRECT SALES ONLY UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE IN CAPTION – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: i-Images, PacificCoastNews / Avalon
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- 121755, Carole Middleton talks to Sir Terry Wogan in the Royal Box on day five of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London. London, United Kingdom – Friday June 27, 2014. UK, FRANCE, AUS, NZ, CHINA, HONG KONG, TAIWAN, SPAIN & ITALY OUT,Image: 533537543, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS, DIRECT SALES ONLY UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE IN CAPTION – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: i-Images, PacificCoastNews / Avalon
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- 121755, Carole Middleton arrives on day five of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London. London, United Kingdom – Friday June 27, 2014. UK, FRANCE, AUS, NZ, CHINA, HONG KONG, TAIWAN, SPAIN & ITALY OUT,Image: 533537597, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS, DIRECT SALES ONLY UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE IN CAPTION – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: i-Images, PacificCoastNews / Avalon
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- The official portrait for the christening of Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge, photographed in The Morning Room at Clarence House in London on October 23rd 2013. PICTURED: (back row, left-right) HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, HRH The Prince of Wales, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, HRH Prince Harry of Wales, Pippa Middleton, James Middleton, Carole Middleton and Michael Middleton. (front row, left-right) HM Queen Elizabeth II, HRH Duchess of Cambridge carrying HRH Prince George and HRH Duke of Cambridge. Prince George is wearing an outfit made of delicate Honiton lace and white satin by Angela Kelly, an exact replica of the one worn before him by every baby born to the British Royal family since 1841. The Duchess is wearing Alexander McQueen dress and a Jane Taylor hat. This photograph is only available for distribution for 24 hours from date of the embargo (22:00 Thursday 24 October 2013) , after which all distribution and licensing rights revert to Jason Bell and Camera Press Limited. The photograph is for distribution to your existing subscribers only and must not be sold, supplied to third parties, nor sub licensed by yourselves. Editorial rights only. No merchandising or commercial usage of this image is permitted. mandatory credit/copyright for JASON BELL. Image must not be cropped or altered without prior permission from the photographer and Camera Press Limited. The photograph cannot be archived by you or your subscribers and must be marked as such. You agree to delete all copies from your system on expiry of the 24-hour period and advise your subscribers of this requirement.,Image: 549563288, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Photoshot – sales@photoshot.com London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Florida: +1 239 689 1883 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: – / Avalon
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- The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, accompanied by other Members of the Royal Family, will attend the Together At Christmas community carol service at Westminster Abbey on Wednesday 8th December. Hosted and spearheaded by The Duchess, and supported by The Royal Foundation, the event will pay tribute to the incredible work of individuals and organisations across the UK who have supported their communities through the COVID-19 pandemic. Filmed for broadcast, the service will provide a moment for the nation to come together and reflect, to think not only of the extraordinary challenges that we have faced, but also to celebrate the acts of kindness that we have witnessed across our nation, the communities pulling together to protect and care for those in need, and those who have stepped up to help others. Combining traditional elements with a modern and inclusive feel to encompass people of all faiths and none, the service will feature carols sung by the world-renowned Westminster Abbey choir alongside musical performances by Leona Lewis and Ellie Goulding. It will also incorporate a performance of To The Day, a poignant composition created for the service by poet and writer Lemn Sissay, and readings delivered by speakers including The Duke of Cambridge, British Paralympian and junior doctor Kim Daybell and Kate Garraway. 8 December 2021,Image: 647072730, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon / Avalon
So they have bags of money for themselves but none for the locals who got fucked. Perfect.
Yeah he’s not doing them any favors by saying that (if that was his intention in the first place). I have plenty of money I just refuse to pay my business debts isn’t a good look for anyone. I’m sure they aren’t begging for alms in Buckleberry but they probably don’t have have as much as people imagine. They probably never did. This is what happens though when you let lies stand. They come back to bite you.
I agree. The Windsors may have caused the downfall but getting it out into the press and they aren’t going to bail them out. Do I believe they have money? I do not. If they have money then they should pay those debts and then their reputation would not be in ruins and the Windsors couldn’t come for you with their press.
I think this is a royal “know your place” slap down of the Middletons.
The Fall of the House of Middleton started much earlier than the PP bankruptcy, didn’t it? Like around the time of the Diana statue, and the stories about how Carole was William’s surrogate mother, and “sources” claiming that Carole was spending too much time at W&K’s.
I think sometime between Spring of 2018 (Rose stories?) and K’s bday in 2019. That’s when W’s loving lap mama became less close.
And that the surrogate mother Carole was a better mother to William than Diana. The hubris to think she could stay that in print! My god.
And then the tatler article about chz toasties and William’s head in her lap 🙄
They decided to create a holdings company for party pieces in 2019 and that was a sign that the business wasn’t viable anymore and they needed to protect their personal assets. Prior to that it was only a private partnership with Mike and Carole exposed to any debt the company would have. And at no time do the public filings for the holding company ever show a profit. When it was a private partnership for the decades prior, they were not required to make their filings public so that conveniently no one has any real idea of what the profits and lossses were for this company.
All stuff can be checked online from the UK Companies House website.
Yeah the creation of the holdings company, to me, signals that the business was already starting to collapse, pre-pandemic. The pandemic might have hastened its demise, but the Midds saw the writing on the wall years ago.
If the Windsors arent embarrassed by the failure of Party Pieces, it tells me they dont intend to be associated with PP for long.
Reading all this I’m stuck by how it’s all perfectly normal business practices. As they say, when it comes to business, the crime is what’s legal.
The only card the Middletons have left is the cancer card, apparently. We can’t pay the vendors back because cancer. Kate isn’t the royal racist because cancer. Peg can’t divorce her because cancer. It’s vile and disgusting.
💯 percent agree!!
🎯🎯🎯
Loooooooooooooooool this is hilarious! Letting the public know that the Middletons have a ton of cash is not the flex they think it is. This is either some very deft sabotage to make sure Carole stays out of the public eye forever, or Carole’s pride has taken a hit and she’s trying to brazen it out by being shameless, a la Trump.
Just have to give Kaiser props once again for her photo selections 😂
Why would the windsors be embarrassed by it? Not really anything to do with them. The Waleses may be embarrassed. But it’s no better or worse grift than the royals themselves pull all the time.
The Windsors aren’t embarrassed by Prince Andrew. ‘Nuff said?
EXACTLY!
In the USA bankruptcy is nothing compared to pedophilia.
They have money to pay off their debts but they are choosing not to how does any of this make them look good . This not the flex that they think it is actually pretty shit things to be brag about openly this what the third article . To say they have the money to pay but are refusing not to so they are basically screw over hard working people who don’t live in mini mansion .
Interesting that the first five paragraphs are about the Middleton’s money management, lol. Someone wants to emphasize that Party Pieces went belly up and the Middletons are neither totally broke nor are they going to pay back their company’s debts. Good thing these people are good at caring for their daughter and grandchildren, no?
I would think the Fall of the House of Middletonedeafs was hastened by two factors: the EU law that made it illegal to sell their clients’ data, and the busted pot farm on the other side of the fence at the far end of Bucklebury palace.
Anyone in this day and age who believes that PP ever made them millions, especially after Amazon and Poundland arrived on the scene, can only be a Deranger. I don’t believe they are *rich*, they may be well off though and are helped along by receiving comped stuff like cars and clothes.
Why would the Windsors particularly care about the Meddlingtons though? They also don’t care about Paedo Andy making them look bad, the racism, the off-shore accounts, the honors for cash, Camzilla leaking to the rotten trash media, the millions worth of jewels missing, the general attitude of entitlement, being workshy, incurious, ignorant, unintelligent – and a whole lot more, like censuring historical documents like ceremonies filmed by the BBC, faking photos, smearing absent family members while putting them in harm’s way etc etc.
“Princess Kate Middleton”? What’s the point of titles if even the Brits won’t use them correctly?
I read it as back handed compliment. Her name is spelled with a C now and left out the Wales part adding in Middleton. They might as well just saw Kate “Middle class” like back in the day. The press always calls her Kate Middleton and Prince William when they are undercover annoyed about having to write this because they fucked up.
I see that Operation Rehabilitation continues unabated. Only this time they’re focusing on the Middletons’ tarnished image.
I think the bigger story here is that the British press with the assistance and sanction of the Palace helped to peddle a myth that the Middleton’s were multimillionaires. There was never an attempt to shield Meghan’s family on both sides from scrutiny and intrusion from the press. It’s clear which relationship the Royal Family wanted to protect and which one they wanted destroyed.
If I recall there was one article around the time of the engagement that dug into the Middleton finances a little bit. I think it was from the Telegraph. It resurfaced recently when the bankruptcy news came out.
They would NEVER sell Middleton Manor – never, know matter how broke they are. I think they have enough squirrelled away to keep them comfortable as lets face it they demand everything for free using their royal connection. Pippa’s wedding was mostly comped from what I can recall and James had a smaller private one.
Why should the Windsor’s be embarrassed by the failure of the Middleton business – the miracle was why it limped along for as long as it did.
Bullshit. If they have to say it, they’re embarrassed. They always deny what’s true. And why is Carole so much in the news this morning? She’s insufferable.
Looks like William struck back already for that lack of support remark.
If anything, the Windsors are laughing their heads off, especially Crocmilla Windsor. I really think a divorce is in the works and the reason they are not stepping in to soften the blow is because they know they’ll have minimal contact with the Middletons moving forward. I also think the Windsors know there was/is some shady shit going on with the Middleton money which may come out publicly after the divorce.
My god, it is a CHOICE to say that they have lots of money but don’t care about creditors. Brazen.
“I’m really rich, I just won’t pay my debts” isn’t the flex you think it is. 🙄
They really need to stop screaming around that they have loads of money hidden away when they still have debts to pay off because this is not a good look.
Mmmm, one wonders what the iinsolvency practitioners used by party peices thinks of this financial bragging doesn’t one Carol, when you keep saying you can’t afford to pay them. Christ these people shoot themselves in the foot every bloomin day.
And NO the Windsors aren’t embarrassed, because they are sat there laughing their bloomin heads of to their toff friends in the gentry, saying “ya, didn’t that commoner realise she really isn’t one of us old boy, we are definitely not allowing interlopers in OK ya” 😂maybe we should employ her as a trolly dolly to serve us drinks, seems she used to be good at that old chum!!
Mary Pester, this is an interesting article for the US because who cares what anyone thinks about a business that was insolvent? This must be Ma Mids at work again. I wish the brf would leave the US out of their crap.
@sauce&sassy – I know right. These people all have a brain size that’s smaller than a pea. They are literally so predictable, it’s like you know what they’re going to do next. It was already predicted that they’ll put the USA in the middle of their bullsh$&t. Inc trying to bully private American citizens just because they support HM. There’s one thing I’ve learned from Americans – that for all our fighting and bickering that we have with one another, nothing unites us more than having to fight back threats esp from a Foreign entity. They haven’t seen what’s that like YET when mainstream Americans become Wild Wild West on them.
And also with this article – don’t insult our intelligence- we know the Midds are broke a$$ and was able to con their own country.
Of course, they’re not embarrassed. Rich people — royal or nonroyal — tend to be shameless.