Carole’s crowning glory...no wonder she’s giving a royal wave!
THIS must be Carole Middleton’s dream come true. All her Christmases come at once.
For the Berkshire businesswoman whose family fortunes flow from the Party Pieces website, to invite the second, third, fourth and fifth in line to the throne to her own almost-royal wedding on her own Home Counties turf… well, no wonder she looked in the pink as she gave her first gleeful regal wave of the day to the crowd.
Imagine Carole’s pride and joy at the truly scrumptious event, party-planned down to the last sugared almond – particularly given her bystander bit-part at the public military-Royal-industrial rally orchestrated by The Firm that was Kate’s wedding six years ago.
Yesterday, as the glamorous mother of the beautiful bride, who was marrying a tall, dark, handsome and follically unchallenged hedge funder rather than the heir to the throne, it was very much Nanny Carole doing the honours.
Yes the Middleton Matriarch was centre stage as Mr and Mrs Roger Federer, the Turnip Taliban from Norfolk, the bride’s friends from Edinburgh University, and big stars of the small screen joined several younger Royals at an ancient church in the North Wessex Downs, in their nude heels and vintage cars – and all to the accompaniment of cheers from villagers and the happy cheeping of birds.
Carole, 62, in her flying saucer hat, beamed and blushed with delight, as well she might. Meanwhile the handsome father of the groom, David Matthews, was dashing in his cornflower-blue waistcoat and everyone noting, as they do at times like these: ‘Good genes on both sides’, thinking of the grandchildren.
The truth is that Pippa’s married a man described as ‘divine’ by all who’ve met him. A friend of mine who has sat next to him at dinner says: ‘He was that rare man who actually asked questions about me and remembered what I had said. Totally charming.’
And a friend of Pippa’s from university adds: ‘She’s completely nailed it with that one.’
Two out of three Middletons have been signed, sealed, and delivered into wedlock in the highest style and in the finest company. Only James and Donna Air (who managed to swerve the ‘no ring, no bring’ rule barring unmarried partners from the nuptials) remain.
It was the almost royal wedding that – unlike actual Royal weddings – looked almost fun.
Congratulations Carole, you pulled it off.