It may not be a royal palace, but Kate Middleton’s parents’ £4.2 million home is pretty impressive too.
Carole and Michael Middleton bought the grand Bucklebury Manor in 2012 and have a number of impressive characteristics.
The grade II listed Georgian property has seven bedrooms, five reception rooms – including a drawing room and library – and 18 acres of grounds complete with a tennis court and outdoors swimming pool.
Traditional fireplaces, a kitchen with a large wooden dining table and a conservatory with huge floor-to-ceiling windows have already been shown in rare photos shared from inside the home.
DISCO ROOM
With such a beautiful home, it would understandably be difficult to pick a favorite feature, but Carole revealed that their kitchen is the highlight.
In an interview with Good cleaningKate’s mum said: “It’s a kitchen/dining/living room and it’s the heart of the house. I love dinner in the kitchen.
“Where I have a small number of guests. I’ll prepare something delicious and make it look beautiful, then we’ll finish with a disco in the kitchen.”
JAMES’ SNEAK PEEK
During the pandemic, James Middleton gave royal fans a sneak peek into the home while he was there with his partner Alizee, and showed off that the kitchen has a traditional aga.
The businessman also captured Alizee’s reaction as she sat with her parents in the Bucklebury garden, giving a rare glimpse into the Middleton family home.
While Carole was seen enjoying a glass of wine and Michael the Peroni, Alizee jumped in surprise from the patio table surrounded by perfectly manicured lawns and wildflower beds.
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
Michael and Carole do not have any type of royal title, despite Michael being a descendant of rural gentry.
Carole had a modest upbringing, was born and raised in a council flat in Southall, London, and was the daughter of a sales assistant and a builder-decorator.
The couple met while working for British Airways as ground crew.
In 1987, the Middletons launched their own businessParty Pieces, after Carole realized she could make some money from creating party bags.
After growing the company into a multi-million pound business, Party Pieces was badly hit by Covid restrictions and in April 2023 the company called in consultants from restructuring firm Interpath to try to raise new funds for the business.
However, the family decided to leave the company and in May 2023 the business was sold on a pre-package basis to Essex-based businessman James Sinclair.
Inside the Middleton family tree – with Michael and Carole at the helm
MICHAEL and Carole Middleton are now the proud grandparents of second in line to the throne Prince George, his sister Princess Charlotte, and Prince William and Princess Kate’s third son Louis.
They also have a further three grandchildren through their second daughter, Pippa, who is married to hedge fund manager James Matthews.
James and Pippa share two daughters, Grace and Rose, and have a son named Arthur.
Michael and Carole’s son James Middleton married French financial analyst Alizée Thevenet on September 11, 2021.
They had their first child, Inigo, in October 2023.
The name Inigo is of Spanish and Basque origin and means “fiery”.
REAL VISITORS
Kate and William are still regular visitors to the Middleton family home and have been known to go to the local boozer, the Boot Inn.
In truth Prince George spent the first few weeks at Bucklebury rather than Kensington Palace.
When the Wales family visits Kate’s parents, royal protection officers and cars are seen as commonplace in the picturesque village.
Carole and Michael are said to have added bedrooms to their £4.7million home for when the couple come to stay.
And with seven grandchildren, Middleton’s grandparents certainly keep busy.
Carole added to Good Housekeeping: “I want to run down the hills, climb the trees and go through the playground tunnel.
“As long as I can, that’s what I’ll do. I cook with them, I dance, we go on bike rides.”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story