Carole Middleton will be celebrating with her nearest and dearest today as she turns 71. Although not a member of the Royal Family, Carole, as mother to Princess Catherine, is clearly very popular with the royals, including with her daughter’s father-in-law, King Charles.
While it is not known how much time she spends with the Royal Family, she sees her daughter, the Princess of Wales, often, alongside Catherine’s husband Prince William and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. It has been widely reported that Carole plays a big role in the lives of her three royal grandchildren, which includes helping with school runs.
Here at the Express, we have looked at some of Carole Middleton’s most iconic moments with the Royal Family.
1. She has always been a doting mother
Being the mother of a future Queen is probably not easy, but Carole Middleton has always made it look so. Since the early days of Princess Catherine dating Prince William in the early 2000s, Carole Middleton has come across as every inch the supportive mother. Despite the increased media attention on Catherine, Carole was more than happy to still accompany her daughter out and about, whether to explore the shops or attend events, including the Sovereign’s Parade at Sandhurst Military Academy to watch Prince William pass out as a commissioned officer in 2006.
(Image: Pool Photograph/Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
5. Carole’s first time seeing Prince George
Carole’s first time seeing her grandson, Prince George, was another iconic moment, with Catherine’s mother and father turning up in a black cab to see the family at the hospital a day after he was born in 2013. It is believed they were George’s first visitors. After seeing George, Carole told TV cameras: “They are both doing really well, and we are so thrilled.”
(Image: ANDREW COWIE/AFP via Getty Images)