How Carole helps Kate and Pippa to stay so slim

By their Uncle Gary, who admits he’s rather porky by comparison

THE Duchess of Cambridge’s ability to retain her strikingly slim figure after the birth of two children provoked much comment. Now, her mother, Carole Middleton, has been credited with instilling in her the ‘ mentality’ of watching closely what she eats and how much exercise she takes.

Carole’s brother, Gary Goldsmith, who grew up with her in a council house in Southall, West London, says that she’s the one responsible for Kate’s slender shape and her younger daughter Pippa’s devotion to fitness regimes.

‘Carole has always looked after herself and eaten healthily, and she has a stunning figure,’ Goldsmith says. ‘That mentality of considering your diet and exercise is evident in the girls also.’

The 53-year-old, who sold his shares in an IT recruitment company for £17 million in 2005, is so embarrassed that his portly shape dwarfs those of his relations that he’s embarking on

a drastic diet. ‘A few years back someone asked me why I was super-sized when my family are so slim,’ admits bearded Goldsmith, whose weight peaked at 17 st 8 lb. ‘ “Charming,” I thought, but it did strike a chord. The family they were referring to was obviously my sister, Carole Middleton, and my nieces Kate and Pippa.’

Goldsmith, who made the comments in a blog about his health drive, adds: ‘Mixed together with lots of Father Christmas jibes, I’ve realised I need to lose weight.’

A keen sportswoman at school, Kate was thought to be a healthy size 10 when she caught Prince William’s eye while modelling in a fashion show at St Andrews University.

She slimmed down to a petite size 8 when she moved to London, however, and reportedly followed the proteinrich Dukan Diet with Carole.

Within weeks of giving birth to Prince George, the Duchess was back to her willowy self. And just six weeks after Princess Charlotte was born, Kate was pictured wearing her skinny jeans. She was said to be following a new exercise regime that included yoga, swimming and gym workouts with a personal trainer.