Carole Middleton and Michael Middleton Make Rare Joint Appearance at Royal Ascot

Carole and Michael Middleton will celebrate their 46th wedding anniversary this weekend.

Carole and Michael Middleton stepped out together for Day 3 of Royal Ascot, where they enjoyed a sunny day in the Royal Box alongside King Charles and Queen Camilla.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Princess Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, live a quiet, almost-normal life in Bucklebury, a short 40-minute drive from Windsor. From grandparent duties to pub lunches to dog walks, their life looks remarkably simple considering their daughter will one day be Queen of England. They are rarely photographed out and about, and enjoy their privacy, so a rare joint appearance from Princess Kate’s mom and dad is always nice. Carole and Michael Middleton stepped out together for Day 3 of Royal Ascot, where they enjoyed a sunny day in the Royal Box alongside King Charles and Queen Camilla.

ASCOT, ENGLAND - JUNE 18: King Charles III, Carole Middleton and Zara Tindall react as they attend day three of Royal Ascot 2026 at Ascot Racecourse on June 18, 2026 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Carole Middleton in the Royal Box at Ascot.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

ASCOT, ENGLAND - JUNE 18: Carole Middleton on day three of Royal Ascot 2026 at Ascot Racecourse on June 18, 2026 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)

Carole Middleton wore some of Princess Kate's favorite designers.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

ASCOT, ENGLAND - JUNE 18: Michael Middleton attends day three of Royal Ascot 2026 at Ascot Racecourse on June 18, 2026 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Michael Middleton looking dapper.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Michael Middleton looked incredibly dapper in a top hat, tails, and light blue waistcoat, while Carole shined in a coat dress from Catherine Walker, one of Princess Kate’s go-to royal designers. A matching bag and shoes from Emmy London—another brand favored by the Princess of Wales—and a pair of earrings once worn by Princess Kate herself made the entire ensemble feel very Kate-coded. Like mother, like daughter.

The Middletons have settled in remarkably well amongst the royals, considering their very humble beginnings. Now a regular fixture at events like Royal Ascot, Sandringham church services, and in the Royal Box at Wimbledon, they enjoy an easy relationship with Prince William’s family. Prince William has always been close to the Middletons, and enjoys the normality of life at their home, Bucklebury Manor.

Latest Videos From

ASCOT, ENGLAND - JUNE 18: Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh and Michael Middleton on day three of Royal Ascot 2026 at Ascot Racecourse on June 18, 2026 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)

Michael Middleton chats with Prince Edward.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

ASCOT, ENGLAND - JUNE 18: Zara Tindall and Carole Middleton on day three of Royal Ascot 2026 at Ascot Racecourse on June 18, 2026 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)

Carole Middleton and Zara Tindall.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

ASCOT, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Carole Middleton and Alizee Thevenet attend day 2 of Royal Ascot 2026 at Ascot Racecourse on June 17, 2026 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

Carole Middleton and Alizée Middleton on Day 2 of Royal Ascot.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Carole and Michael Middleton will celebrate their 46th wedding anniversary this weekend, and they looked happy as ever as they attended Royal Ascot alongside The King and Queen, Duchess Sophie, Zara Tindall, and even Stanley Tucci. Carole Middleton and daughter-in-law Alizée attended Day 2 with Princess Kate, enjoying the races and garden party atmosphere. Royal Ascot is a regular fixture in the Middleton family calendar, with regular appearances with their daughter and son-in-law and without them.

Christine Ross
Writer

Christine Ross is a freelancer writer, royal expert, broadcaster and podcaster. She's worked with news outlets including the BBC, Glamour, Talk TV, ET, PBS, CNN and 20/20 to cover the foremost royal events of the last decade, from Prince George’s birth to the coronation of King Charles III.

She previously served as co-host of Royally Us, a weekly royal podcast by Us Weekly. As a freelance writer and royal commentator she provides expert commentary, historical context and fashion analysis about royal families worldwide, with an emphasis on the British Royal Family.