Kate & Pippa's childhood sounded idyllic. Did their parents shape their lives?

[Creepingivy]

I was reading about them this morning. The 80s were a tough time economically but the Middleton children's childhood sounded idyllic with very present, motivated parents. The three children are all now very wealthy with their own families. The middletons invested in education & it has paid off.
Carole & Michael both appear warm, friendly & very confident so it's no wonder their children are the same.

Kate and Pippa married into wealth. I don’t think James works but he has well documented mental health struggles.

I think even giving them the confidence & social skills to mix in wealthy, elite circles is a skill in itself. My parents instilled an inferiority complex in me & my siblings. I feel very out of place in such environments

Looked James up & it appears he is very involved with dogs, particularly cocker spaniels

You achieve that by sending them to the right schools.

That makes them part of the ‘in’ crowd.

Possibly but Carole came from a very working class background, she must have immense confidence to be able to move in those circles as a school mum.

I came from a working class background but made enough money to privately educate my dcs. I've never for a second felt 'lesser'.

There are all kinds of backgrounds at private schools.

Yes, Kate and Pippa did have a nice childhood but so did many others.

I don't think any of the Middleton children have any self made wealth? Wasn't Kate a junior accessories buyer? And James owes thousands and thousands to creditors from a string of disastrous business ventures. I'm not sure what Pippa does. Her husband is very wealthy though.

Exactly this. By the time Kate was publicly dating William, Pippa was only 20ish. By default, she was in the spotlight and would have met many wealthy individuals because of her sister's links. As far as I'm aware, she's never "done" anything in particular, other than met and married a billionaire.

Not sure it’s the education in and of itself that has advanced the siblings! I knew lots of posh girls at uni primarily there to meet a husband. A 2:1 in Art History doesn’t generally lead to wealth and power entirely on one’s own merits

I think it's probably influenced by nature and nurture, and they seem to have got a lucky mix of both that supported their transition into that world.

My mum has the attitude you describe (feels inferior around 'better' people, doesn't like going into environments she considers 'posh') and definitely tried to instill the same attitude in her children. But it didn't rub off on me and I seem to just innately have the approach to life that we are all people and why would I be any less worthy of going to nice places, talking to different people etc.

Unfortunately I have siblings that were more influenced by nurture it's sad to sometimes see them 'shrink' in situations where they have no real reason to feel lesser!

Being sent to boarding school doesn't seem that idyllic, though.

Everyone's life is shaped by their parents, for better or worse.

Goodness I’d never describe boarding school as idyllic.

They've also been incredibly lucky with their genes. William wouldn't have looked twice at Kate if she had been 5 foot nothing, overweight and pug ugly.

My dd went from a comprehensive school to a RG uni and felt equal to the people who came from famous private schools that she’d never heard of (bar Eton which she has heard of) She’s also been puzzled when people from these schools say that she comes across as private school educated - her accent is generic Home Counties and she’s never done “rich people activities “ like skiing

Going to boarding school increases chances of mingling with the rich and powerful but I’ve raised kids who aren’t impressed by stuff like private education. They know that their top grades are equal to top grades from posh schools

Wasn’t Kate bullied ? Didn’t the Middleton’s party business go bust ?

I believe that Michael Middleton father left money for all the grand children to be privately educated.
Michael may have come from a moneyed family, so mixing with those type of people could have been the norm.
Carol set up Party Pieces when all the children were quite young, that did well for them.
They have both money given to them and worked for it as well.

Michael Middleton’s father flew around South America with Prince Philip in the 1960s. Probably why Kate was considered ‘safe’ when they allocating people to be in halls with William. Not exactly an ordinary family.

This 100% more than anything else. And good social skills and intelligence. If you are clever attractive, naturally good at things, with a loving supportive family, confidence is inevitable.

And life choices too of course. If he'd asked me out I would have said no, I couldn't cope with that lifestyle. Kate has been amazing rising to every challenge.

For all their wealth ,Kates life will be mapped out for her.In terms of her childhood ,her parents worked hard and were also "moneyed" by her fathers side as well. She is not in good health and is still only in her mid forties! Yes her parents moved in the right circles ,and she like her Mum and Sister is slim and attractive , lots of other girls are too of course .Just good old chemistry that attracted them I guess !

Kate is amazing @Alalalalalongalalalalalonglonglilong she definitely possesses oodles of inner confidence & steeliness, she takes everything in her stride. I do think her upbringing though has contributed substantially to this.

I have no idea if their childhood's were idyllic or not, but they do seem incredibly supportive to Catherine and her role. There haven't been any tell all interviews, books or scandals from any of them. She knows they have her back.

@Alalalalalongalalalalalonglonglilong

“If he'd asked me out I would have said no”

I love this! Made me snort out loud - good on ya!

”Jog on Wills, you’re not my type!” 😆

Someone paid those fees so times werent that tough (currently £39k pa for boarding).

Yes the 80's were tough but not for the Middletons. For god sake, you're talking about them as if they're every day folks next door. Of course they fucking aren't! Michael Middleton has artistocratic heritage and his family were/are filthy rich and posh af. Admire and coo over them if it gets you through the day but don't try to tell me that they are in anyway "one of us".

The Middletons should put their hands in their very deep pockets and pay back the poor sodding small business owners they bumped and dumped after they declared bankcruptcy. This includes over £20,000 to an Afghan refugee who was resettled here after helping our troops and who started a small business selling helium gas. This debt wiped out his entire year's profits whilst the Middletons continue to live in a mansion worth millions. They kept placing orders with small businesses even though they knew the company was in dire straits but don't worry, they'll never have to suffer the consequences. It makes me fucking sick.