Party Pieces, the family business run by Carole and Michael Middleton, has apologised for failing to deliver some goods to some of their most high-profile costumers – Ben Fogle and his wife Marina. The company sent a public message on Twitter to express how sorry they were for the missing delivery. Marina, who had been planning a birthday bash for her five-year-old son Ludo, had taken to the micro-blogging site to alert them of their "disappointing" service. "Really disappointing service from @PartyPieces failed to deliver for Ludo's party, didn't tell me and can 'only apologise'. Not good enough," tweeted the mum-of-two.
Carole and Michael Middleton's family business Party Pieces apologised on Twitter
Party Pieces replied, writing: "@FogleMarina Apologies again, we understand our customer services manager has refunded you and is sending a small gift by way of apology ^SA." While Marina – who is an event planner and co-founder of a pregnancy advisory clinic in London – did not respond further, she still seemed to have a wonderful time celebrating her son's big day. "5th Birthday," she captioned a photo of herself and Ludo blowing out his chocolate Smarties cake.
Marina Fogle was expecting a delivery for her son Ludo's birthday
The Fogles and the Middletons are closely connected, as Ben and Marina were invited to Prince William and Kate's wedding in 2011. The Prince also very briefly dated Marina's sister Olivia Hunt while at university, before he met Kate. According to Party Pieces' official website, Carole, who is mother to Kate, Pippa and James Middleton, set up the online business in 1987. "As a mother of three young children I founded Party Pieces hoping to inspire other mothers to create magical parties at home and to make party organising a little easier," she writes on the website.
Marina and Ben Fogle attended Prince William and Kate's wedding in 2011
Carole goes on to describe how the company, estimated to be worth more than £30million, operates from converted farm buildings in the family's West Berkshire estate. Her younger daughter Pippa, 31, works for the business and part-time edits their blog, while James also uses the website to sell his cake-making kits.