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Royal Father-in-Law Trades Rolls-Royce for Lawnmower
29 Apr
Summary
- Michael Middleton used a lawnmower the day after the royal wedding.
- He is praised for his self-effacing and down-to-earth nature.
- The Middletons provide invaluable support to the Waleses.

Michael Middleton, father to the Princess of Wales, showcased a remarkable display of humility the day following his daughter's 2011 wedding. After escorting Kate Middleton to marry the future King, he was seen tending his garden in Berkshire with a lawnmower, a stark contrast to the Rolls-Royce used for the ceremony. This self-effacing gesture, highlighted by Prince William's former private secretary, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, exemplified Middleton's grounded character.
The Middleton parents, Michael and Carole, reside in Berkshire and offer significant support to their children, including the Prince and Princess of Wales. This support has been particularly crucial following the Princess's cancer diagnosis in 2024. The Middletons frequently spend weekends with the Waleses in Norfolk, providing William with "more room to breathe."
Evidence of their close family bond includes a video from 2024 showing Carole and Michael playing cards with the family, marking the end of the Princess's chemotherapy. Prince Louis also penned a thank-you note to his "granny and grandpa" for playing games during a Christmas event.
This resurfaced anecdote coincides with the 15th wedding anniversary of the Prince and Princess of Wales, celebrated on April 29, 2026. The couple marked the occasion by releasing a photograph featuring themselves and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, taken during a recent holiday in Cornwall.