Prince William and Kate Middleton could make a significant change to the Royal Family when they eventually become King and Queen Consort, with Kate's mother, Carole Middleton, potentially influencing their approach to royal life.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have already taken steps towards modernising the monarchy, but royal author Ingrid Seward believes they could go further by scaling back the grandeur associated with the institution when William ascends the throne.
Carole Middleton's influence
In her book Catherine & Diana, Seward suggests Kate's relatively ordinary upbringing could encourage her husband to adopt a more modest approach to royal residences and the way they are run. She questions whether the couple will remain based at Forest Lodge or continue using the Royal Family's many properties throughout the year, including Sandringham and Balmoral.
“[Will they] stay small in Forest Lodge, or go the whole hog and decide to keep Sandringham, Balmoral and all the other smaller houses light and warm and staffed through the long winter nights?” Seward wrote.
She added: “The voice of Catherine, whose mother was brought up in a council flat, in William's ear might suggest that keeping things relatively modest is in tune with the times.”
A working-class background
Carole Middleton grew up in a working family and has previously spoken about how hard her parents worked to provide for their children. Her father, Ron, was a builder, while her mother, Dorothy, worked part-time in a jeweller's shop.
Carole has described watching her parents work “extremely hard” to “make ends meet and give [their children] a lifestyle”. Seward believes this background could give Kate a distinctive perspective as she prepares for her future role alongside William.
Residences and future plans
The Prince and Princess of Wales already have several residences available to them, including Forest Lodge, Anmer Hall and Tam-Na-Ghar Cottage. However, maintaining multiple royal properties with staff throughout the year comes with practical and financial considerations.
Seward argued that William may want to reduce the scale of the monarchy without abandoning its traditions entirely. “All the signs point to William wishing to downsize the grandeur of the royal family, not to lose its tradition or its panoply of grandeur but to bring it in line with people's expectations,” she writes.
One possibility could be to use royal residences more selectively, with properties staffed when required rather than maintained at full capacity throughout the year. Sandringham and Balmoral could still play a role in the family's traditional calendar, while smaller homes could provide a more practical base for William, Kate and their children.
The couple could also continue to use Forest Lodge as their main base, with its location offering convenient access to London and keeping them relatively close to Kate's family in Bucklebury. Windsor Castle, meanwhile, could continue to be used for official meetings and audiences rather than serving as a full-time residence.
There has been no official announcement that William and Kate intend to abandon or reduce their use of any royal residences.
