There’s still no follow-up reporting on the collapse of the Middletons’ house of cards. In May and June, Carole and Michael Middleton “sold” Party Pieces in what was more like a bankruptcy-mandated liquidation. Carole was exposed as a serial grifter who defrauded banks and small businesses out of millions of dollars. We haven’t heard anything more about any of that in nearly four weeks. What was also interesting about the whole controversy is that the Middletons have wealthy in-laws – Prince William has private money, Pippa’s husband is terribly moderately wealthy, and James Middleton is financially supported by his wife Alizee Thevenet.
I always thought James was the black sheep of the family, the one Middleton with no hustle or business sense, just staggering from one financial disaster to the next. Now I know he’s a chip off the ol’ block. I have no idea what James’s latest failed business is – probably dog food? – but Alizee seems to make good money and she seemed fine with supporting their lifestyle. Except she’s going on maternity leave soon! Alizee is preg! James announced it on his Instagram, with photos of a bumped-out Alizee and their dog Mabel. Congrats to them, I guess. I really hope Alizee has a prenup. I hope she keeps her money completely separate from James and his grifter family. Anyway, Carole’s got another grandkid coming. She only seems to care about the royal grandkids, so who knows.
Photos courtesy of Instagram, Backgrid.
Don’t care. Can’t make me……I am curious how he gets by though. What does he do?
Am I the only one tickled by the fact that the future Queen’s brother married a woman named after cheap liquor?
I have no ill feelings about James Middleton so far.
He loves dogs, he does not seem to be a social climber or a big business brain.
Of all of Caroles kids he seems the least annoying to me. 👍
What does she do for a living?. Lawyer? No idea.
If it’s any consolation, I didn’t know Alizé was a liquor. However, I can tell you that by French standards, Alizée as a first name is a cheap name, très populaire, as we say.
First names are huge social markers in France. Alizée Thévenet might be making money now, but her name betrays modest origins. Not quite as bad as the French Kevins and Jennifers, but not that far on the social ladder.
It’s rather sad actually, but it is what it is in my native country. 😕
Really? That’s interesting. I’m a gauche American, lol, but I always thought Alizée sounded so beautiful and, idk, refined? In any case, I like her. She has great style and seems so laid-back (from what little we’ve seen). But ITA with Kaiser that I hope she keeps her money far away from Carole’s grubby hands.
@Tennyson.Sarah: fascinating, really, that the country whose revolution is known far & wide for lopping off the heads of royals & aristos is still focused on social position & is utilizing first names, of all things, as some kind of marker. That is way more insidious than attending the ‘right’ school or living in the ‘right’ Parisian neighborhood.
this is so interesting, what would a rich French person name their baby?
She works as a head of private equity and venture capital at a financial services company. Probably makes a good standard of living with a job like that.
The reddish color dog in the pic is cute. It looks kind of like a golden retriever but smaller. Does anyone know the breed? My family is considering getting my dad a dog. His favorite dog ever passed many years ago but he thinks he might be ready for another one. I’d be very happy for him to go to the shelter but he loves golden retrievers, even though the last one passed way too young, due to the health problems associated with them. At least I convinced my sister to get her last dog from the shelter down the road. Anyways, the dog is cute and Alizee usual has interesting style.
I think that he has English cocker spaniel, they come in a few different colours, and a golden retriever.
Alizee needs to recuperate quickly and get back to work. Someone needs to pay the bills and it’s not James. Who will care for baby? Not James but possibly Carole?
I agree with Lorelei below, James seems to have plenty of time on his hands & maybe being a SAHD will be the life he really wants after all. He’s clearly not a businessman.
@Beaniebean: do you actually believe that many children’s names in the US don’t belie their parents’ class and education level? If you do, you’re living in some alternate reality.
Maybe it will be James? Who knows. He seems to have floated from one thing to another throughout his adult life, maybe he’ll find his calling in being a dad? He doesn’t seem like the type of guy who would be embarrassed to be in that role; he’s been pretty open about his struggles, IIRC.
(This was meant as a reply to @Libra)
Does not concern me who is the bread winner or who is the SAH parent.
Maybe this couple wants to live a quiet country life and has no interest in social climbing like Mom Carole has pushed her daughters into.
If I had the chance to live quietly in the beautiful countryside with a kind partner, a baby and a couple of dogs, I would jump at it! 👍
He has been pretty open with his struggles in his mental health, so I wish them well.
@heykay; I see an imbalance of labor and responsibilities here. I was once in this spot; an unemployed or underemployed partner, a new baby, a full-time job and totally responsible for paying the bills and all the work of keeping the household functioning. I am assuming that James Will not have the time to help out much as he is devoted to caring for his multiple dogs who give him a great deal of emotional support. So while it doesn’t concern you who is the breadwinner, I feel concern for her.
Depending on where she works she may have a very good maternity package. Either way it will be far more than you’d get in the US (both in terms of time off and paid leave) so they’re unlikely to go short of funds.
Let’s hope the bloke finally feels some shame and this pushes him into getting a job. A proper job. With a large town like Reading on the doorstep there will be plenty of openings.
Perhaps his parents will do likewise and attempt to pay back their creditors – plenty in their age group are still working.
What a disgrace they are.
It looks like James was successful at one task, at least. : D