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Kate and Carole Middleton at Royal Ascot and Carole smiling outside Lindo Wing© Getty

11 times Carole Middleton and Princess Kate proved they are mother-daughter goals

Happy Birthday to the Princess of Wales's mother!

Danielle Stacey
Online Royal CorrespondentLondon
Updated: January 31, 2025
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The Princess of Wales's mother, Carole Middleton, celebrated her milestone 70th birthday on Friday and no doubt her family will have made the day special for her.

The businesswoman is the matriarch of the Middleton family and shares a close bond with her three children – Kate, Pippa Matthews and James Middleton.

Carole and Kate have always had a close-knit mother-daughter relationship, with the former Party Pieces owner present for some of the biggest moments in her eldest daughter's life, including her marriage to Prince William in 2011.  

WATCH: Everything You Need To Know About Carole Middleton

Both Carole and her husband, Michael, are very involved in their children and grandchildren's lives, with the couple rallying around Kate and William as the Princess underwent abdominal surgery and cancer treatment last year.

In the past, Carole has been spotted driving into Kensington Palace for babysitting duties while William and Kate have been working on royal engagements, and she and Michael featured in the video released to announce the end of the Princess' chemotherapy.

The pair were seen playing cards with William, Kate and their three children at Anmer Hall, with Prince Louis choosing to dedicate his thank you note to Carole and Michael at his mother's Christmas carol service last December.

Kate has previously opened up about her idyllic childhood growing up in Bucklebury, telling Giovanna Fletcher on her podcast, Happy Mum, Happy Baby, in 2020: "I had a very happy childhood. It was great fun, I'm very lucky, I've come from a very strong family - my parents were hugely dedicated to us, my siblings. I really appreciate now as a parent how much they sacrificed for us. 

"They would come to every sports match - I was very keen on sport - they came to every sports match, they'd be the ones on the side-line shouting, and we'd always have our family holidays together."

Carole and Michael are grandparents to William and Kate's three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, as well as Pippa and James Matthews' little ones, Arthur, Grace and Rose.

They welcomed their seventh grandchild when James Middleton and Alizee Thevenet had baby Inigo last year.

As Carole celebrates her birthday, take a look at some of her sweetest mother-daughter moments with Kate over the years… 

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Carole and Michael Middleton join William and Kate at church in Sandringham© Getty

New Year's church service 2020

Carole and Michael joined William, Kate and their friends at a church service on the Sandringham estate in January 2020. Their outing took place just days before Kate's 38th birthday. 

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Kate Middleton greeting her family at her Christmas carol concert 2021© Alamy

Christmas concert 2021

Mum Carole showed her support for her daughter as she and husband Michael, and their two youngest children, Pippa and James, attended Kate's Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey in December 2021. 

Photographers captured this moment of the then Duchess looking over at her family as they proudly watched.  

The Middletons were also among the guests at the carol concert last year and in 2022. 

3/11

Kate Middleton pulling faces with Princess Charlotte as Carole Middleton looks on© Getty

King's Cup Regatta 2019

Carole was on hand to look after George, Charlotte and Louis as William and Kate took part in a sailing competition on the Isle of Wight. 

The Princess and her daughter were spotted making funny faces at Kate's father Michael in the crowd, as an amused Carole looked on. 

4/11

Carole Middleton and Duchess of Cambridge at Royal Ascot 2017© Getty

Royal Ascot 2017

Mother and daughter looked lovely as they attended Royal Ascot together in June 2017. 

Kate wore a white lace dress by Alexander McQueen, while Carole looked chic in a dove blue outfit by Goat with a matching hat.  

5/11

Kate Middleton holding Princess Charlotte's hand as Carole and Michael Middleton look on© Getty

Christmas Day 2016

William and Kate joined the Middletons in Bucklebury for Christmas, attending the church service with their two eldest children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. 

Carole beamed proudly as her toddling granddaughter made her way down the steps, holding her mum's hand and a candy cane.  

6/11

William and Kate on the balcony on their wedding day with the Middletons and Charles and Camilla© Getty

Royal wedding 2011

Carole and Michael proudly joined the royals on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after William and Kate's wedding at Westminster Abbey in April 2011.  

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Kate, Pippa and Carole Middleton arriving at The Goring Hotel on the eve of the royal wedding© Getty

Eve of the royal wedding 2011

The royal bride-to-be stayed at the luxury Goring Hotel the night before her wedding. 

Kate, Carole and Pippa smiled and waved at the huge crowd that had gathered to greet them, as they made their way inside.  

8/11

Kate and Carole Middleton pictured in London on Carole's 53rd birthday© Ikon Pictures/Shutterstock

Carole Middleton's birthday 2008

The mother-daughter duo looked so chic after the Middleton family celebrated Carole's 53rd birthday at a restaurant in London in 2008. 

Kate wore a camel jacket by Joseph, which she later wore when she was pregnant with Prince George.

9/11

Kate and her parents sharing a giggle at Sandhurst© Getty

Prince William's passing-out parade 2006

Kate and her parents attended the Sovereign's Parade at Sandhurst Military Academy to watch William's passing-out parade in 2006. 

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Carole Middleton and Kate Christmas shopping in 2005© Getty

Christmas shopping 2005

Carole and Kate had a girls' day out while Christmas shopping in London in 2005. 

Prince William and his then girlfriend had just graduated from the University of St Andrews.  

11/11

Carole Middleton holding Kate Middleton as a baby in 1982© Instagram / @princeandprincessofwales

Baby Kate 1982

On Mother's Day 2020, Kate shared a rare photograph of her mother holding her as a newborn in 1982. New mother Carole gazes up at a cot mobile as baby Kate, dressed in a blue knitted outfit, dozes in her arms.  

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