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The Middleton family is an English family that has been related to the
British royal family The British royal family comprises Charles III and other members of his family. There is no strict legal or formal definition of who is or is not a member, although the Royal Household has issued different lists outlining who is considere ...
by marriage since the wedding of
Catherine Middleton Catherine, Princess of Wales (born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton; 9 January 1982), is a member of the British royal family. She is married to William, Prince of Wales, heir apparent to the British throne. Born in Reading, Catherine grew u ...
to
Prince William William, Prince of Wales (William Arthur Philip Louis; born 21 June 1982), is the heir apparent to the British throne. He is the elder son of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales. William was born during the reign of his p ...
in April 2011, when she became the
Duchess of Cambridge Duke of Cambridge is a hereditary title of nobility in the British royal family, one of several royal dukedoms in the United Kingdom. The title is named after the city of Cambridge in England. It is heritable by male descendants by primogeni ...
. The couple have three children:
George George may refer to: Names * George (given name) * George (surname) People * George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George * George Papagheorghe, also known as Jorge / GEØRGE * George, stage name of Gior ...
, Charlotte and
Louis Louis may refer to: People * Louis (given name), origin and several individuals with this name * Louis (surname) * Louis (singer), Serbian singer Other uses * Louis (coin), a French coin * HMS ''Louis'', two ships of the Royal Navy See also ...
. Tracing their origins back to the
Tudor era In England and Wales, the Tudor period occurred between 1485 and 1603, including the Elizabethan era during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558–1603). The Tudor period coincides with the dynasty of the House of Tudor in England, which began with ...
, the Middleton family of
Yorkshire Yorkshire ( ) is an area of Northern England which was History of Yorkshire, historically a county. Despite no longer being used for administration, Yorkshire retains a strong regional identity. The county was named after its county town, the ...
of the late 18th century were recorded as owning property of the Rectory Manor of
Wakefield Wakefield is a cathedral city in West Yorkshire, England located on the River Calder. The city had a population of 109,766 in the 2021 census, up from 99,251 in the 2011 census. The city is the administrative centre of the wider Metropolit ...
with the land passing down to solicitor William Middleton who established the family law firm in
Leeds Leeds is a city in West Yorkshire, England. It is the largest settlement in Yorkshire and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds Metropolitan Borough, which is the second most populous district in the United Kingdom. It is built aro ...
which spanned five generations. Some members of the firm inherited woollen mills after the
First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. By the turn of the 20th century, the Middleton family had married into the
British nobility The British nobility is made up of the peerage and the gentry of the British Isles. Though the UK is today a constitutional monarchy with strong democratic elements, historically the British Isles were more predisposed towards aristocratic gove ...
and, by the 1920s, the family were playing host to the British royal family.


History


Gledhow Grange-Hawkhills Estate

By the late Georgian era, the Middleton family were established in the
West Riding of Yorkshire The West Riding of Yorkshire was one of three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the riding was an administrative county named County of York, West Riding. The Lord Lieutenant of the West Riding of Yorkshire, lieu ...
as cultural and civic figures, particularly in the legal profession. The law firm Messrs Middleton & Sons was founded in
Leeds Leeds is a city in West Yorkshire, England. It is the largest settlement in Yorkshire and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds Metropolitan Borough, which is the second most populous district in the United Kingdom. It is built aro ...
in 1834 by
gentleman farmer In the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, a gentleman farmer is a landowner who has a farm (gentleman's farm) as part of his estate and who farms as a hobby rather than for profit or sustenance. The Collins English Dictionary defin ...
and solicitor William Middleton,
Esq. Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title. In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman an ...
(1807–1884) of Gledhow Grange-Hawkhills Estate. One of his sons, solicitor Arthur Middleton (1846–1907), inherited Hawkhills from his father. Gledhow Grange-Hawkhills Estate abutted Gledhow Lake as did the adjacent Gledhow Hall. In 1881, William Middleton's son, Edwin (1841–1892), a keen
ice skater Ice skating is the self-propulsion and gliding of a person across an ice surface, using metal-bladed ice skates. People skate for various reasons, including recreation (fun), exercise, competitive sports, and commuting. Ice skating may be perfo ...
, was reported as the hon. treasurer of the Gledhow Skating Club. Gledhow Hall was owned at that time by Samuel Croft, the former
Mayor of Leeds The Lord Mayor of Leeds (until 1897 known as the Mayor of Leeds) is a ceremonial post held by a member of Leeds City Council, elected annually by the council. By charter from King Charles I in 1626, the leader of the governing body of the bo ...
(1875) and the club's other hon. treasurer. The ''
Leeds Mercury The ''Leeds Mercury'' was a newspaper published in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It was published from 1718 to 1755 and again from 1767. Initially it consisted of 12 pages and cost three halfpennies. In 1794 it had a circulation of about 3,00 ...
'' recorded in January 1881 that "per S. Croft and Edwin Middleton", a "proportion of surplus undsfrom the Gledhow Skating Club had been donated to the
Leeds Infirmary Leeds General Infirmary, also known as the LGI, is a large teaching hospital based in the centre of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, and is part of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Its previous name The General Infirmary at Leeds is still ...
". From 1885, the owner of Gledhow Hall was James Kitson, 1st Baron Airedale with the first marriage between the neighbouring Middleton and Kitson families occurring in March 1900. William Middleton's descendants include his grandson (Richard) Noël Middleton (1878–1951), a solicitor, director of the family woollen manufacturing firm and co-founder of the
Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra The Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra (YSO) is an orchestra based in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It was first active from its establishment in 1947 until its demise in 1955, and then revived in 2021. Initially based in the Leeds Town Hall, it is n ...
. Noël Middleton's youngest son was Peter Francis Middleton, who was
Prince Philip Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, later Philip Mountbatten; 10 June 19219 April 2021), was the husband of Queen Elizabeth II. As such, he was the consort of the British monarch from h ...
's co-pilot on a tour of South America. Peter Middleton's second son is entrepreneur
Michael Francis Middleton Michael Francis Middleton (born 23 June 1949) is a British businessman. He is the father of Catherine, Princess of Wales, Pippa Middleton, Philippa Matthews and James Middleton. Born in Leeds, Middleton was educated at the University of Surre ...
, who married Carole Goldsmith in 1980 and subsequently relocated to
Berkshire Berkshire ( ; abbreviated ), officially the Royal County of Berkshire, is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Oxfordshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the north-east, Greater London ...
.


Party Pieces

Michael and Carole Middleton founded a mail-order supply company, Party Pieces, in 1987, but sold it in May 2023 after it fell into
administration Administration may refer to: Management of organizations * Management, the act of directing people towards accomplishing a goal: the process of dealing with or controlling things or people. ** Administrative assistant, traditionally known as a se ...
. The company was at one point estimated to be worth £30 million, but by the time it collapsed it owed £2.6 million to creditors, including £612,685 owed to
HM Revenue and Customs His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (commonly HM Revenue and Customs, or HMRC, and formerly Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) is a department of the UK government responsible for the collection of taxes, the payment of some forms of stat ...
, £218,749 owed to
Royal Bank of Scotland The Royal Bank of Scotland Public Limited Company () is a major retail banking, retail and commercial bank in Scotland. It is one of the retail banking subsidiaries of NatWest Group, together with NatWest and Ulster Bank. The Royal Bank of Sco ...
for a Coronavirus Business Interruption loan, and £20,430 to an Afghan refugee whose small business was a supplier of helium gas. The company's administrator's report stated that unsecured creditors were unlikely to be paid. The children of Michael and Carole Middleton are: Catherine Elizabeth, Princess of Wales, socialite and columnist Philippa Charlotte Matthews and businessman
James William Middleton James William Middleton (born 15 April 1987) is a British entrepreneur who is the younger brother of Catherine, Princess of Wales. Born in Reading, Berkshire, Middleton was educated at St Andrew's School, Pangbourne. He briefly attended the Un ...
. The Middletons purchased Bucklebury Manor in 2012.Why Prince William and Kate Middleton have chosen Bucklebury as Prince George's first home
, ''
Hello Hello is a salutation or greeting in the English language. It is first attested in writing from 1826. Early uses ''Hello'', with that spelling, was used in publications in the U.S. as early as the 18 October 1826 edition of the '' Norwich Cou ...
'', 20 August 2013


Aristocratic ties

Robert Lacey Robert Lacey (born 3 January 1944) is a British historian and biographer. He is the author of a number of best-selling biographies, including those of Henry Ford, Eileen Ford, Queen Elizabeth II and other royals, as well as several other wo ...
describes the Middleton family as having
aristocratic Aristocracy (; ) is a form of government that places power in the hands of a small, privileged ruling class, the aristocrats. Across Europe, the aristocracy exercised immense economic, political, and social influence. In Western Christian co ...
kinship In anthropology, kinship is the web of social relationships that form an important part of the lives of all humans in all societies, although its exact meanings even within this discipline are often debated. Anthropologist Robin Fox says that ...
. The Middletons were "friends of
British royalty The British royal family comprises Charles III and other members of his family. There is no strict legal or formal definition of who is or is not a member, although the Royal Household has issued different lists outlining who is conside ...
" to whom, in their civic capacity, they "played host as long ago as 1926". The great-grandfather of
Catherine, Princess of Wales Catherine, Princess of Wales (born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton; 9 January 1982), is a member of the British royal family. She is married to William, Prince of Wales, heir apparent to the British throne. Born in Reading, Catherine grew ...
, Noël Middleton, and his elder brother, photographer and
civil engineer A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering – the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructure while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing i ...
Captain William Middleton (1874–1940) reportedly wed their fiancées in Leeds at
Mill Hill Chapel Mill Hill Chapel is a Unitarian church in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is a member of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, the umbrella organisation for British Unitarians. The building, which stands in the cen ...
in the years before the
First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. Mrs William Middleton (née Agnes Clara Talbot) was the niece of Sir James Kitson, 1st Baronet (later 1st
Baron Airedale Baron Airedale, of Gledhow in the West Riding of the County of York, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 17 July 1907 for the Liberal politician Sir James Kitson, 1st Baronet, who had previously represented Col ...
), who led the chapel's congregation at this time, while Mrs Noël Middleton (née Olive Christiana Lupton) was the first cousin-once-removed of Baroness von Schunck (née Kate Lupton), and the second cousin of Baroness Airedale (née Florence von Schunck) and of Lady Bullock (née Barbara Lupton). Two of the grandchildren of William Middleton (1807–1884) were solicitor Henry Dubs Middleton (1880–1932), a
Charterhouse Charterhouse may refer to: * Charterhouse (monastery), of the Carthusian religious order Charterhouse may also refer to: Places * The Charterhouse, Coventry, a former monastery * Charterhouse School, an English public school in Surrey London ...
alumnus, and Gertrude Middleton (1876–1942), educated at
St Leonards School St Leonards School is a co-educational private boarding and day school for pupils aged 4–19 in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. Founded in 1877 as St Andrews School for Girls Company, it adopted the St Leonards name upon moving to its current pre ...
, who were both students at the
University of Oxford The University of Oxford is a collegiate university, collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the List of oldest un ...
between 1899 and 1903; Gertrude, the "wealthy" sister of Noël Middleton, studied at St Anne's College while her cousin studied law at
University College In a number of countries, a university college is a college institution that provides tertiary education but does not have full or independent university status. A university college is often part of a larger university. The precise usage varies f ...
. Henry served as Chairman of
Leeds General Infirmary Leeds General Infirmary, also known as the LGI, is a large teaching hospital based in the centre of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, and is part of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Its previous name The General Infirmary at Leeds is still ...
where he played host to Princess Mary in 1932. He was married to
golf Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various Golf club, clubs to hit a Golf ball, ball into a series of holes on a golf course, course in as few strokes as possible. Golf, unlike most ball games, cannot and does not use a standa ...
er Jane Middleton (née Berney) (1878–1964), a daughter of Sir Henry Hanson Berney, 9th Baronet. Their sons were Ralph Middleton (1908–1990), who was, like their father, a solicitor who later headed the family law firm, and cricketer
Cecil Middleton Cecil Middleton (26 May 1911 – 3 September 1984) was an English people, English first-class cricketer. Middleton was born in Leeds in May 1911, the son of Family of Catherine, Princess of Wales, Henry Dubs Middleton, grandson of Henry Dübs ...
(1911–1984).They were educated at Charterhouse and University College, Oxford.


Family law and woollen manufacturing firms

Many relatives of Michael Middleton (father of the Princess of Wales) were solicitors in the Leeds-based family firm, Messrs Middleton & Sons. His grandfather Noël Middleton, great-grandfather John William Middleton,
Esq. Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title. In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman an ...
(1839–1887), and great-great-grandfather William Middleton, Esq., as well as many other Middleton relatives, were all solicitors at the law firm which William had established in 1834. William Middleton's 1884 obituary in the ''
Leeds Times The ''Leeds Times'' was a weekly newspaper established in 1833, and published at the office in Briggate, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It ceased publication on 30 March 1901, with Robert Nicoll as one of its first editors, and Samuel Smiles ...
'' records that the firm Middleton & Sons had been solicitors to the
Leeds Permanent Building Society The Leeds Permanent Building Society was a building society founded in Leeds, England in 1848 and was commonly known in a shortened form as The Leeds or The Perm. It should not be confused with the extant Leeds Building Society (formerly Leeds ...
since its establishment in 1848. William Middleton's great-grandson John Alfred Middleton (later Middleton-Joy, 1895–1975) was the son of Gilbert Middleton (1865–1921), a church soloist (the Church of St Oswald, Filey and
St Chad's Church, Far Headingley St Chad's Church, Far Headingley is the parish church of Far Headingley in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. The church is Grade II* listed in Gothic Revival style. The dedication is to Chad of Mercia, who was bishop of York and died in AD 672. I ...
) and solicitor. John Alfred Middleton studied at
Winchester College Winchester College is an English Public school (United Kingdom), public school (a long-established fee-charging boarding school for pupils aged 13–18) with some provision for day school, day attendees, in Winchester, Hampshire, England. It wa ...
where he was a substitute in the college's
First XI The First XI (or, less commonly, First 11) are the eleven primary players in an organisation's leading team, particularly a football or cricket team. A player who is considered a core part of the starting line-up in a First XI team is often the ...
in the 1914 Eton Match. He studied at
Christ Church, Oxford Christ Church (, the temple or house, ''wikt:aedes, ædes'', of Christ, and thus sometimes known as "The House") is a Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Founded in 1546 by Henry V ...
where he gained a legal qualification (
Jurisprudence Jurisprudence, also known as theory of law or philosophy of law, is the examination in a general perspective of what law is and what it ought to be. It investigates issues such as the definition of law; legal validity; legal norms and values ...
). He married Dorothea, daughter of Judge Thomas D. Beighton. Middleton and his wife were members of Ascot Heath. Reportedly one of "the keenest women in Leeds on
horse-racing Horse racing is an equestrianism, equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all spor ...
matters", Mrs John Alfred Middleton-Joy and her husband dined alongside fellow racing enthusiasts Princess Mary and her husband, the
Earl of Harewood Earl of Harewood (), in the County of York, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. History The title was created in 1812 for Edward Lascelles, 1st Baron Harewood, a wealthy sugar plantation owner and former Member of Parliament fo ...
, at a Tangiers hotel in February 1934. John Middleton-Joy's elder brother, solicitor Alan Lomas Middleton (1893–1970) was, like his brother, an
Oxford Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town. The city is home to the University of Oxford, the List of oldest universities in continuou ...
graduate. Alan and their father Gilbert, a
Cheltenham College Cheltenham College is a public school ( fee-charging boarding and day school for pupils aged 13–18) in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. The school opened in 1841 as a Church of England foundation and is known for its outstanding linguis ...
alumni, were members of the
Yorkshire Ramblers' Club The Yorkshire Ramblers' Club (YRC) was founded in Leeds on 6 October 1892. It is the second-oldest mountaineering club in England (the oldest being the Alpine Club), and the UK's oldest caving club, active in mountaineering and caving in the Unit ...
as was Gilbert's brother Noël Middleton. Alan's son David Middleton (died 2023) attended Winchester and then went up to New College, Oxford University after which he was a solicitor at the family law firm and President of the Leeds Law Society. David attended the wedding at
Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an Anglican church in the City of Westminster, London, England. Since 1066, it has been the location of the coronations of 40 English and British m ...
in April 2011 of
Catherine Middleton Catherine, Princess of Wales (born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton; 9 January 1982), is a member of the British royal family. She is married to William, Prince of Wales, heir apparent to the British throne. Born in Reading, Catherine grew u ...
– his second cousin, once removed – to
Prince William William, Prince of Wales (William Arthur Philip Louis; born 21 June 1982), is the heir apparent to the British throne. He is the elder son of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales. William was born during the reign of his p ...
. Noël Middleton was a director of William Lupton & Co., the Leeds
textile manufacturing Textile manufacturing or textile engineering is a major industry. It is largely based on the conversion of fibre into yarn, then yarn into fabric. These are then dyed or printed, fabricated into cloth which is then converted into useful good ...
firm his wife, Olive, had inherited in 1921. His two elder sons, Christopher Maurice Middleton (later Lupton)—an
alumnus Alumni (: alumnus () or alumna ()) are former students or graduates of a school, college, or university. The feminine plural alumnae is sometimes used for groups of women, and alums (: alum) or alumns (: alumn) as gender-neutral alternatives. Th ...
of
Cambridge University The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...
's Emmanuel College—and Anthony John Middleton, worked at the family's manufacturing firm. Described by
Tina Brown Christina Hambley Brown, Lady Evans (born in England on 21 November 1953), is a journalist, magazine editor, columnist, broadcaster, and author, with dual British/United States citizenship. She is the former editor in chief of '' Tatler'' (197 ...
as being at the "top level of the legal profession in Leeds", Middletons (formerly known as Middleton & Sons) existed for over 150 years, closing in 1985. The firm was then absorbed into Booth & Co (itself later absorbed by Addleshaw). Michael Middleton's niece, Lucy Middleton, is a London-based solicitor and a godparent of Prince Louis.


Peter and Valerie Middleton

Michael Middleton's father was commercial pilot and RAF officer Peter Francis Middleton (1920–2010). His boyhood in Leeds saw Peter Middleton share a
governess A governess is a woman employed as a private tutor, who teaches and trains a child or children in their home. A governess often lives in the same residence as the children she is teaching; depending on terms of their employment, they may or ma ...
with his second cousins, Dr Francis G. H. Lupton (1921–2006) and Arthur Ralph Ransome Lupton (1924–2009), both nephews of
Arthur Ransome Arthur Michell Ransome (18 January 1884 – 3 June 1967) was an English author and journalist. He is best known for writing and illustrating the ''Swallows and Amazons'' series of children's books about the school-holiday adventures of childre ...
. As all three of Middleton's maternal uncles died in the
First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, the
family seat A family seat, sometimes just called seat, is the principal residence of the landed gentry and aristocracy. The residence usually denotes the social, economic, political, or historic connection of the family within a given area. Some families t ...
, Beechwood Estate, was inherited by his grandfather's younger brother, Arthur Greenhow Lupton (1850–1930), and later controlled by his
spinster Spinster or old maid is a term referring to an unmarried woman who is older than what is perceived as the prime age range during which women usually marry. It can also indicate that a woman is considered unlikely to ever marry. The term origin ...
daughters, Dr Elinor Gertrude Lupton (1886–1979), a Lady Mayoress of Leeds, and Elizabeth Lupton (1888–1977). Francis Lupton's 2001 book, ''The Next Generation: A Sequel to The Lupton Family in Leeds by C.A. Lupton'' contains Middleton's memoirs in which he recalls attending
formal Formal, formality, informal or informality imply the complying with, or not complying with, some set of requirements ( forms, in Ancient Greek). They may refer to: Dress code and events * Formal wear, attire for formal events * Semi-formal atti ...
family gatherings at Beechwood:
"...the even greater ordeal of the annual Beechwood Party, for which I still remember the horrors of trying to tie a black bow tie for my first dinner jacket. Nor will I forget my terror of Lady Bryce..."
Lady Bryce was the aunt of his
mother A mother is the female parent of a child. A woman may be considered a mother by virtue of having given birth, by raising a child who may or may not be her biological offspring, or by supplying her ovum for fertilisation in the case of ges ...
's first cousins, sisters Elinor and Elizabeth Lupton. Middleton wrote that he was "somewhat in awe" of his unmarried cousins who shared a love of
animal husbandry Animal husbandry is the branch of agriculture concerned with animals that are raised for meat, animal fiber, fibre, milk, or other products. It includes day-to-day care, management, production, nutrition, selective breeding, and the raising ...
with their friend Princess Mary. The two sisters also shared great-grandparents with
Beatrix Potter Helen Beatrix Heelis (; 28 July 186622 December 1943), usually known as Beatrix Potter ( ), was an English writer, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist. She is best known for her children's books featuring animals, such as '' ...
. Middleton boarded at
Clifton College Clifton College is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school in the city of Bristol in South West England, founded in 1862 and offering both boarding school, boarding and day school for pupils aged 13–18. In its early years, unlike mo ...
and then studied English at
New College, Oxford New College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1379 by Bishop William of Wykeham in conjunction with Winchester College as New College's feeder school, New College was one of the first col ...
. After leaving in 1940 he served as a RAF fighter pilot during the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. Commissioned as a pilot officer (on probation) in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, RAFVR on 9 March 1941, Middleton was confirmed in his rank and promoted to flying officer (war-substantive) on 9 March 1942. In May 1942, he was posted to No 37 Service Flying School in Calgary, Canada where he spent two-and-a-half years as an instructor, training Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster pilots. On 9 March 1943, he received a promotion to flight lieutenant (war-substantive). After joining the reservist 605 Squadron at Manston, near Ramsgate in Kent, in August 1944, Middleton flew a de Havilland Mosquito fighter bomber, nudging the wings of unmanned German V1 flying aircraft to divert them from hitting London. After the war, Flew with Lancashire Aircraft Corporation, before moving to British European Airways as a pilot, but remained in the reconstituted RAFVR, receiving a reserve commission as a flying officer on 12 August 1949. Promoted to flight lieutenant on 1 March 1951, he relinquished his reserve commission on 12 August 1959. On a two-month tour of South America in 1962,
Prince Philip Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, later Philip Mountbatten; 10 June 19219 April 2021), was the husband of Queen Elizabeth II. As such, he was the consort of the British monarch from h ...
piloted 49 of the tour's 62 flights with Peter Middleton as his co-pilot, to whom he sent a letter of thanks and a pair of gold cufflinks. ''Pathé News, British Pathé'' newsreel captured the two men during the tour. Middleton met his granddaughter's fiancé, William, Prince of Wales, Prince William, on his 90th birthday and William attended his funeral in November 2010. Michael's mother, Valerie (née Glassborow, 1924–2006) was the daughter of bank manager Frederick Glassborow and his wife, Constance (née Robison). She and her twin sister Mary were born in Marseille and grew up in France. They were Multilingualism, bilingual. Valerie attended an English boarding school and later studied at a private secretarial college. Valerie Middleton served as a Voluntary Aid Detachment, VAD nurse during the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
and in August 2020, in commemoration of the British Red Cross, her granddaughter,
Catherine, Princess of Wales Catherine, Princess of Wales (born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton; 9 January 1982), is a member of the British royal family. She is married to William, Prince of Wales, heir apparent to the British throne. Born in Reading, Catherine grew ...
, shared a "personal family photo" of her grandmother wearing her British Red Cross uniform. Valerie Middleton also worked at the GCHQ#Government Code and Cypher School (GC&CS), Government Code and Cypher School in Bletchley Park where a memorial commemorates her work as a Cryptanalysis, code-breaker. Her colleague and friend, Lady Body (née Richard Body, Marion Graham), recalled in 2014 that she had shared a "rather special moment" with Valerie: "Our superior officer, Commander Williams, came into the room smiling and he said, 'Well done, girls. A signal has been intercepted from Tokyo to Geneva and it's the signal that the Japanese are surrendering'. He told us that a message has gone to the George VI, King and the Winston Churchill, Prime Minister but that it could not be announced until Geneva has sent on the message to London".


Grandparents of Michael Middleton

Trust law, Trust funds had been established from the fortunes of Michael Middleton's grandmother, heiress Lupton family#Olive Middleton (née Lupton), Olive Christiana Middleton (1881–1936), a member of the Lupton family. Olive studied at Roedean School and was accepted at the University of Cambridge. She was in the procession of dignitaries accompanying Princess Mary in Headingley Cricket Ground, Headingley in 1927 and on the princess' fundraising committee for the
Leeds General Infirmary Leeds General Infirmary, also known as the LGI, is a large teaching hospital based in the centre of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, and is part of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Its previous name The General Infirmary at Leeds is still ...
. Olive's husband was Leeds-born (Richard) Noël Middleton (1878–1951), who boarded at
Clifton College Clifton College is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school in the city of Bristol in South West England, founded in 1862 and offering both boarding school, boarding and day school for pupils aged 13–18. In its early years, unlike mo ...
until 1896. Although accepted to study at
New College, Oxford New College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1379 by Bishop William of Wykeham in conjunction with Winchester College as New College's feeder school, New College was one of the first col ...
, he chose to commence his legal training in Leeds whilst attending Jurisprudence, law lectures at Victoria University (United Kingdom), Victoria University, Leeds. In 1898, as a member of the Leeds Law Students' Society, Noël partook in debating competitions. Noël Middleton "married the aristocrat", Olive, at the
Mill Hill Chapel Mill Hill Chapel is a Unitarian church in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is a member of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, the umbrella organisation for British Unitarians. The building, which stands in the cen ...
in Leeds in 1914. In 1919, he retired as a solicitor from the legal practice in Leeds he shared with Sir William Henry Clarke (1861–1930) who had served his Law clerk, clerkship in Leeds with Middleton's father, John William Middleton (1839–1887) and was a City of Leeds councillor alongside Olive's father. Members of the Middleton family were politically active – "staunch Conservatives" (Tories) and adhered to High church, High Church Anglicanism. They were close to the Venerable James Seaton (bishop), Archdeacon J.B. Seaton (Ripon College Cuddesdon, Oxford) who, in 1921, officiated at the funeral of Noël Middleton's brother, solicitor Gilbert Middleton, at the wedding of Gilbert's daughter Margaret in Leeds in 1925 and his son Alan's wedding in 1926 at St Mary Abbots, St. Mary Abbots Church, Kensington at which the Groomsman, groomsmen reportedly included Alan's brother John, a Winchester College, Winchester alumni and
Christ Church, Oxford Christ Church (, the temple or house, ''wikt:aedes, ædes'', of Christ, and thus sometimes known as "The House") is a Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Founded in 1546 by Henry V ...
graduate in
Jurisprudence Jurisprudence, also known as theory of law or philosophy of law, is the examination in a general perspective of what law is and what it ought to be. It investigates issues such as the definition of law; legal validity; legal norms and values ...
and their uncle, solicitor Noël Middleton. Noël Middleton was a co-founder of the
Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra The Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra (YSO) is an orchestra based in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It was first active from its establishment in 1947 until its demise in 1955, and then revived in 2021. Initially based in the Leeds Town Hall, it is n ...
and a regular guest at musical Party, soirées at Harewood House, home of Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood, Princess Mary, Princess Royal. He was reported in November 1949 as representing the Leeds Triennial Musical Festival, Leeds Musical Festival Committee when conversing with the Princess and her son, George Lascelles, 7th Earl of Harewood at the Leeds Civic Hall. In 1909, Middleton was a committee member of the Leeds Art Gallery alongside architect Sydney Kitson (1871–1937). Olive Middleton's family had contributed to the political life of both the UK and to the civic life of Leeds, especially in the areas of education, housing, and public health, for several generations. Her father, Lupton family#Francis Martineau Lupton, Francis Martineau Lupton, was a Landed gentry, landowner and lead Magistrate (England and Wales), magistrate who dealt with Probate court, probate matters for the Leeds and West Riding of Yorkshire, West Riding Probate court, Court. The 1899 House of Commons Parliamentary Papers record Lupton as being instrumental in establishing a Requests and inquiries, Parliamentary Inquiry into the religious education for Dissenter, dissenting Protestants. In June 1914, Olive and her sister-in-law Gertrude—"Mrs Middleton and Miss Middleton"—and Olive's second cousin "Miss Lupton" (later Christopher Bullock (civil servant), Lady Bullock) were reported as guests at the First and Third Trinity Boat Club May Ball. Olive Middleton was close to The Honourable, the Hon. Doris Kitson, daughter of her second cousin, Albert Kitson, 2nd Baron Airedale, Florence, Baroness Airedale (née von Schunck), and attended society balls at her home, Gledhow Hall. During the First World War, the house was converted into a Voluntary Aid Detachment hospital run by the British Red Cross, Red Cross and the newly married Olive worked there as a nurse with Doris, a fellow Roedean School, Old Roedeanian.
Catherine, Princess of Wales Catherine, Princess of Wales (born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton; 9 January 1982), is a member of the British royal family. She is married to William, Prince of Wales, heir apparent to the British throne. Born in Reading, Catherine grew ...
visited London's Imperial War Museum in 2018 to read records stating that her great-grandmother was "in residence"—on and off—as a VAD nurse at Gledhow Hall from May 1915 to April 1917. Olive remained involved with the VAD cause for many years. Olive Middleton supported the Leeds branch of the Association for the Care and Protection of Friendless Girls which her grandmother Frances Lupton (née Greenhow) had helped establish in 1885. Also reportedly supporting the association was another of Frances's granddaughters, Lupton family#Arthur G. Lupton and his daughters, Elinor, as well as Baroness von Schunck (née Lupton family#Kate Lupton (Baroness von Schunck), Kate Lupton) and her daughter, the Hon. Mrs Albert Kitson (née Florence von Schunck, later Baroness Airedale), the respective niece and great-niece of Frances. Olive Middleton's brother, Lionel Martineau Lupton (1892–1916) attended Rugby School, Rugby alongside Alan Lomas Middleton, following which he attended Trinity College, Cambridge at the same time as Diana, Princess of Wales's grandfather Albert Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer where both men studied the same subject. They joined up together to fight in the World War I, Great War which saw Lionel and his two brothers killed. In April 1917, George V "commanded" that a letter be written to the brothers' father in which the King recognised the exceptional loss of "your gallant" sons. Olive and her family were reportedly invited in 1905 to the "fashionable wedding" at Holy Trinity, Sloane Street of her second cousin Lupton family, Alan Cecil Lupton to Mary, sister of Burrell baronets, Sir Merrick Burrell, 7th Baronet at which another of Olive's second cousins, Lupton family, Norman Darnton Lupton (1875–1953), acted as Groomsman, best man and his sister Agnes as bridesmaid. Nöel Middleton references having met with Norman in a telegram he sent to his father-in-law, Francis Martineau Lupton, upon the death of Francis' eldest son, Major Francis Ashford Lupton on the Western Front (World War I), Western Front in 1917.


Newton Park and Beechwood Estates

Members of Olive Middleton's family owned the Potternewton, Newton Park and Beechwood estates in Leeds, the latter being the
family seat A family seat, sometimes just called seat, is the principal residence of the landed gentry and aristocracy. The residence usually denotes the social, economic, political, or historic connection of the family within a given area. Some families t ...
where, for decades, the "whole family would gather". The Lupton family are described in the Leeds City Council's photographic archive as "woollen manufacturers and landed gentry—a political and business dynasty"; Olive's first cousin-once-removed, Baroness von Schunck (née Kate Lupton), alongside her daughter and son-in-law, Baron and Albert Kitson, 2nd Baron Airedale, Baroness Airedale, had been invited to the Coronation of George V and Mary, coronation of King George V in 1911. In 1891, Olive Middleton's grandmother Frances Lupton, Frances employed seven indoor servants, including a lady's maid at Beechwood; the estate's cottages housed gardeners, grooms, coachmen and a Bailiff, farm bailiff. Her father, Lupton family#Francis Martineau Lupton, Francis Martineau Lupton, was the eldest son and Inheritance, heir of Lupton family#Francis Lupton III, Francis Lupton III and grew up initially at Potternewton Hall on the family's Potternewton, Newton Park Estate and then their Georgian architecture, Georgian Beechwood Estate, in Roundhay. Whereas the family eventually Subdivision (land), sub-divided Newton Park, the Beechwood estate was Fee tail, entailed to Olive's eldest brother, Francis Ashford Lupton, who lacked a male heir. His death on 26 February 1917 followed the deaths of his two younger brothers—all
First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
casualties. Their father's death occurred in 1921. Olive Middleton and her sister, Lupton family#Anne Lupton, Anne Lupton, inherited a portion of the Newton Park Estate but were prohibited from inheriting Beechwood and the estate succeeded to their father's brother, Arthur Greenhow Lupton. Arthur's only son, Major Arthur Michael Lupton, died in 1929 following an accident on his horse the previous year whilst fox hunting on the Bramham, West Yorkshire, Bramham Moor Hunt, and Beechwood passed to his only son, Tom Lupton. As Tom was only nine at the time of his father's death, his
spinster Spinster or old maid is a term referring to an unmarried woman who is older than what is perceived as the prime age range during which women usually marry. It can also indicate that a woman is considered unlikely to ever marry. The term origin ...
aunts, Elinor and Elizabeth—"The Misses Lupton"—were granted a life interest in Beechwood and continued to live there, occasionally opening their gardens to the public. After their deaths (Elizabeth in 1977 and Elinor in 1979), Tom inherited Beechwood and in 2016, his children continue to retain some of the estate.


City of Leeds dignitaries

On 2 September 1914, Lord Mayor Edward Brotherton, 1st Baron Brotherton, Lord Brotherton announced that the Leeds City Council would be raising a new battalion: the Leeds Pals. His committee was composed of "City dignitaries" including Olive Middleton's father, alderman Lupton family#Francis Martineau Lupton, Francis Martineau Lupton and his brother Arthur Greenhow Lupton. The following year, they were filmed inspecting the Pals troops alongside another one of their brothers, List of mayors of Leeds#List of Lord Mayors, Lord Mayor Sir Lupton family#Sir Charles Lupton, Charles Lupton. Olive's first cousin, Lady Mayoress Lupton family#Arthur G. Lupton and his daughters, Elinor Lupton, regularly played host to the Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood, Princess Royal. In the 1930s, both Noël Middleton and his first cousin, Major (rank), Major Cookridge#Cookridge Hall and the Paul and Middleton families, Arthur Daryl Middleton (1892–1962), were committee members of the Leeds Festival (classical music), Leeds Triennial Musical Festival. In 1942, Major Middleton was a member of the Trustees of the Patronage of Leeds Minster, Leeds Vicarage alongside Henry Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood. He was a solicitor at Messrs Middleton & Sons. As the Assistant Commissioner for the Scouting in Yorkshire and the Humber, Leeds County Scouts Association, solicitor Alan Lomas Middleton arranged a visit by the Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII) to Leeds in June 1923 where the Prince's position as the Chief Scout of Wales reportedly saw him examine—"with deep interest"—Middleton's scouts, most of whom were Visual impairment, visually-impaired. The Prince and Middleton had a "very sympathetic conversation" after which the Prince expressed his good wishes and gave them a salute. Two of Olive Middleton's uncles were Lord mayor, Lord Mayors of Leeds: brothers Lupton family#Hugh Lupton, Hugh Lupton and Sir Lupton family#Sir Charles Lupton, Charles Lupton. Sir Charles also served as Deputy lieutenant of Yorkshire County (West Riding), and his Lord-lieutenant, Lord Lieutenant was Princess Mary's father-in-law, Henry Lascelles, 5th Earl of Harewood. Amongst the mourners at Charles' funeral in 1935 – which paid tribute in particular to his twenty-one years as chairman of the
Leeds General Infirmary Leeds General Infirmary, also known as the LGI, is a large teaching hospital based in the centre of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, and is part of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Its previous name The General Infirmary at Leeds is still ...
– were Lupton family#Agnes and Norman Darnton Lupton, Norman D. Lupton, Lupton family#Alan Cecil Lupton, Alan Cecil Lupton, James Bryce, 1st Viscount Bryce#Personal life, Lady Bryce, Edwin Airey, Sir Edwin Airey, Thomas Ashton, 2nd Baron Ashton of Hyde, Lord Ashton of Hyde, Jessie Beatrice Kitson, Beatrice Kitson, Lady Clarke, Alan Lomas Middleton, Mrs Henry Dubs Middleton and Mr and Mrs Noël Middleton. In February 1947, the Leeds funeral of former Lord Mayor Hugh Lupton was attended by Politician, civic dignitaries and family, including his great-nephews, brothers Christopher, Anthony and Peter Middleton, and their father, Noël Middleton.


Nursing and welfare

In 2018,
Catherine, Princess of Wales Catherine, Princess of Wales (born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton; 9 January 1982), is a member of the British royal family. She is married to William, Prince of Wales, heir apparent to the British throne. Born in Reading, Catherine grew ...
, stated that her patronage of the Nursing Now campaign meant a lot to her personally as both her great-grandmother, Olive Middleton, and grandmother, Valerie Middleton, have been Voluntary Aid Detachment, VAD nurses. In 2022, it was revealed that the duchess' great-great-aunt Gertrude Middleton was also a VAD nurse at Gledhow Hall, the home of Albert Kitson, 2nd Baron Airedale, Baroness Airedale, Olive's second cousin. In 1903, Gertrude's twin sister Caroline Middleton (1876–1961) published an essay in the Leeds Girls' High School annals about working with Helen Gladstone at London's Blackfriars Settlement, Women's University Settlement:
"...where people like ourselves...live amongst the poor and get to know them in order that they may be able to help them in the best and wisest way. This is by helping the poor to help themselves. It is our work is to advise ways and means to help and advise bettering their conditions."
In 1930, another of Noël Middleton's spinster sisters – Miss Olive Middleton (1870–1961) – was reportedly a committee member of the Workpeople's Hospital Fund alongside her aunt Mrs Arthur Middleton (1858–1950) who, like her niece, was a committee member of the Leeds Association of Girls' Clubs and a friend of the Rev. E. H. Dykes, St John the Evangelist's Church, Oulton, Vicar of Oulton (1898–1903). Noël Middleton's brother, Gilbert, was a choralist, lead choralist and Church warden of
St Chad's Church, Far Headingley St Chad's Church, Far Headingley is the parish church of Far Headingley in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. The church is Grade II* listed in Gothic Revival style. The dedication is to Chad of Mercia, who was bishop of York and died in AD 672. I ...
and owned Glebe House, Hollin Lane, Far Headingley which, from 1889 until 1893 had operated as St Chad's Home for Girls. The service at the funeral service, funeral in 1887 of the brothers' father, J.W. Middleton, was read by the Rev. Dr. Smyth, vicar of St Chad's Church where his son Arthur Middleton had also been a "regular attender" and had his own funeral in 1907. Noël Middleton and his niece, Mrs Ronald Broughton Hopkins (née Margaret Middleton, 1900–1972), held honorary positions on nursing and welfare-related committees in
Leeds Leeds is a city in West Yorkshire, England. It is the largest settlement in Yorkshire and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds Metropolitan Borough, which is the second most populous district in the United Kingdom. It is built aro ...
.


Photography

Many generations of Catherine's family have participated in the art of photography, including her great-great grandfather solicitor John Middleton, her great-grandfather solicitor Noël Middleton, his brother William and their sister Margaret, who was due to study at the
University of Oxford The University of Oxford is a collegiate university, collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the List of oldest un ...
but drowned in April 1900 whilst taking photographs of Filey Brigg. Catherine's grandfather, Peter Middleton, further nurtured his family's passion for photography.


Ancestry


References


Further reading

* * * * * *


External links


Ancestry of the Duchess of Cambridge
William Addams Reitwiesner and Michael J. Woods.
"Royal wedding: Family tree", ''BBC News'', 13 April 2011

The Ancestry of H.R.H. Catherine, Princess of Wales, by Anthony Adolph
{{Catherine, Princess of Wales Middleton family (British), Catherine, Princess of Wales, Middleton English gentry families Families by person