A few weeks ago, Richard Eden at the Daily Mail claimed that there had been a sighting, in Norfolk, of Prince William and Carole Middleton having a drink together at a pub. There were no photos, just vibes (and lies). The pub sighting was just one piece of Eden’s column though – he also claimed that the Middletons deserved titles, given that their daughter will one day become queen consort. This is not the first time the Middletons have publicly pushed for titles through one of their favored media figures. It used to happen all the time… before Party Pieces went belly up. But nowadays, given all of the weirdness around the Princess of Wales’s disappearance and the Middletons being exposed as grifters and frauds? It’s an especially weird moment. Well, Hello Magazine sort of bandwagoned on this discussion, and they got their royal expert to pontificate on why the Middletons will probably never get those pesky Earl and Countess of Bucklebury titles.
As parents of a future Queen Consort, and stalwart supporters of the royal family it begs the question: will Carole and Michael Middleton receive official royal titles when their daughter becomes Queen?
HELLO!’s online royal correspondent, Danielle Stacey, has weighed in: “It’s very unlikely that Carole and Michael Middleton will be given titles, despite being the parents of a Queen Consort and this is all down to the rules around peerage titles. A dukedom is a hereditary noble title which is the highest rank of peerage in Britain, and titles can be passed down from a parent or granted by the present reigning monarch. When Kate married Prince William in 2011, Queen Elizabeth II gave them the title of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.”
So while they could be awarded titles, it would be an unprecedented move. According to Woman and Home, Cecilia Bowes-Lyon, the mother of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, was awarded titles of the Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne because “her husband inherited it from his father and was a member of the aristocracy,” rather than to reflect her status as a Queen’s mother.
Queen Camilla’s relatives are also titleless. Sadly, her parents passed away in 1994 and 2006, but when it came to her children, Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes, they were never awarded titles. The one exception is Camilla’s sister, Annabel Elliot who is known as one of ‘the Queen’s Companions’ which are the equivalent to her ‘ladies in waiting’. Kate could appoint her mother and sister as her ‘companions’ but this title would be different to an official royal title or aforementioned peerage honour.
From what (little) I know of the British peerage system, it would be possible for King Charles to simply “give” certain titles to the Middletons or whoever he wanted. Just as it will be possible for “King William” to give his in-laws titles when the time comes. The mention of Camilla here is interesting though, because it’s sort of a parallel conversation – will Camilla’s Parker-Bowles children ever receive titles? It definitely feels like Tom wants one. And if they open the door for the king’s stepchildren to receive titles, what’s stopping William from demanding the Middletons get an earldom? Granted, I don’t think William cares that much anymore, but if Tom Parker Bowles gets a title, William will throw a fit and demand something for the Middletons out of jealousy. At this point, the monarchy is too invested in whitewashing the Middletons too, and it’s not for Kate’s benefit. They just don’t want to admit that William got honey-trapped by Kate and Carole, and that he married his stalker. The Middletons might get a title simply to cover that up and put a bow on this sh-tshow.
PS… what’s the over-under on Tom Parker Bowles getting a title this year?
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.
166648, The Duchess of Cambridge and Carole Middleton attends the opening day of Royal Ascot in Berkshire. Ascot , United Kingdom – Tuesday June 20, 2017. UK, FRANCE, AUS, NZ, CHINA, HONG KONG, TAIWAN, SPAIN & ITALY OUT Photograph: © Stephen Lock, i-Images, PacificCoastNews. Los Angeles Office (PCN): +1 310.822.0419 UK Office (Avalon): +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 sales@pacificcoastnews.com FEE MUST BE AGREED PRIOR TO USAGE 
166648, The Duchess of Cambridge and Carole Middleton attends the opening day of Royal Ascot in Berkshire. Ascot , United Kingdom – Tuesday June 20, 2017. UK, FRANCE, AUS, NZ, CHINA, HONG KONG, TAIWAN, SPAIN & ITALY OUT Photograph: © Stephen Lock, i-Images, PacificCoastNews. Los Angeles Office (PCN): +1 310.822.0419 UK Office (Avalon): +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 sales@pacificcoastnews.com FEE MUST BE AGREED PRIOR TO USAGE 
Carole Middleton Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse – Ladies Day, Day 3 Berkshire, England – 21.06.12,Image: 308735318, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: – / Wenn / Avalon
Carole Middleton leaves the Goring Hotel The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, London, Britain – 29 Apr 2011,Image: 503719730, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries call London + 44 (0)20 7421 6000 , New York + 1 646-329-6242 or Hamburg + 49 (0)40 530 240 5959, *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: – / Avalon 
Prince Charles and Carole Middleton The Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Catherine Katherine Middleton Buckingham Palace Forecourt London,Image: 503723568, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries call London + 44 (0)20 7421 6000 , New York + 1 646-329-6242 or Hamburg + 49 (0)40 530 240 5959, *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: – / Avalon 
Kate Middleton (M) waves to the crowd outside the Goring Hotel in London, Germany, 28 April 2011. She is accompanied byh her Sister Pippa (L) and her mother Carole (2nd to L). London is preparing for the royal wedding of Britain’s Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey on April 29. Photo: Frank May,Image: 506265729, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO GERMANY, AUSTRIA, SWITZERLAND – NO 3RD PARTIES – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries call London + 44 (0)20 7421 6000 , New York + 1 646-329-6242 or Hamburg + 49 (0)40 530 240 5959, Model Release: no, Credit line: Frank May / DPA Picture Alliance / Avalon
Michael and Carole Middleton arriving for the christening of Prince Louis, the youngest son of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, London.,Image: 515593258, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR SEVEN DAYS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: – / Avalon 
62362, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – Tuesday June 7 2011. Matching Middletons! Pippa Middleton and Carole Middleton step out in matching nude shoes! The mother daughter duo were out with Pippa’s father Michael Middleton at Harry’s Bar in Mayfair. ***NORTH AMERICAN USE ONLY*** Photograph: ©Optic Photos, PacificCoastNews.com **FEE MUST BE AGREED PRIOR TO USAGE** **E-TABLET/IPAD & MOBILE PHONE APP PUBLISHING REQUIRES ADDITIONAL FEES** UK OFFICE:+44 131 557 7760/7761 US OFFICE:1 310 261 9676,Image: 525175204, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS, DIRECT SALES ONLY UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE IN CAPTION – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: Optic Photos / Avalon 
167256, Carole Middleton, the mother of the Duchess of Cambridge and Pippa Middleton, spectates from the Royal box on day four of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. London, United Kingdom – Thursday July 6, 2017. UK, FRANCE, AUS, NZ, CHINA, HONG KONG, TAIWAN, SPAIN & ITALY OUT Photograph: Ã?© Stephen Lock/i-Images, PacificCoastNews. Los Angeles Office (PCN): +1 310.822.0419 UK Office (Avalon): +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 sales@pacificcoastnews.com FEE MUST BE AGREED PRIOR TO USAGE,Image: 533038972, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS, DIRECT SALES ONLY UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE IN CAPTION – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: i-Images, PacificCoastNews / Avalon
121755, Carole Middleton talks to Sir Terry Wogan in the Royal Box on day five of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London. London, United Kingdom – Friday June 27, 2014. UK, FRANCE, AUS, NZ, CHINA, HONG KONG, TAIWAN, SPAIN & ITALY OUT,Image: 533537543, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS, DIRECT SALES ONLY UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE IN CAPTION – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: i-Images, PacificCoastNews / Avalon 
Michael and Carole Middleton arriving at Westminster Abbey, central London, ahead of the coronation ceremony of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.,Image: 774175111, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: Andrew Milligan / Avalon 
Carole Middleton, Michael Middleton, Pippa Middleton and James Middleton at the Coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey in London, United Kingdom, on 06 May 2023.,Image: 774203418, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: James Veysey/Shutterstock / AvalonncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pLHLnpmirJOdxm%2BvzqZmcW5oZYN0e8eeo6Wnj57BtKvVnqmyl6Wjuaq3xKWwmKyYlsGgr8CrpqWdj5a7pavMopqhmZWhrK61w52jnqyfo6y4tcullpudj5y2t7HNmKuirJyawHA%3D