Duchess Catherine of Cambridge and Duchess Meghan of Sussex are two of the most watched
women in the world right now. Both exude confidence, grace and have famously
close relationships with their mothers, Carole Middleton and Doria Ragland. But who made
two of our favourite royals the women they are today? Get to know the modern day royal
mothers-in-law and see that they actually have a lot in common.
While the royals were born with silver spoons
in their mouths, both Carole and Doria come from working class backgrounds, far away from
the world of tiaras and polo matches. While some of her ancestors were laborers
and miners hailing from the north of England, London-born Carole initially lived in a council
flat in Southall and attended local state schools during her childhood. And it was when
she worked for British Airways as a flight attendant when she met a steward who was later
promoted to be a flight dispatcher. That man was Michael Middleton, her future husband.
The couple continue to run their business, Party Pieces, a mail order party supplies
company which they started in 1987. Across the pond in the United States, it was
Doria's job as a make-up artist that led her to meet her future husband, Thomas Markle
on the set of soap opera, General Hospital. After Meghan was born and she and Thomas divorced,
Doria went on to complete a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and in 2015, she became a licensed
social worker after receiving a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern
California. Doria continues to work as a mental health social worker and also teaches yoga.
Duchess Catherine and Duchess Meghan may be
genetically blessed with good looks, but their passion for health and fitness is also shared
by their respective mothers. "Yoga is my thing. My mum is a yoga instructor,
and I started doing mummy-and-me yoga with her when I was seven. I was very resistant
as a kid, but she said, 'Flower, you will find your practice – just give it time,'"
the Duchess of Sussex said in 2015. Meanwhile Carole Middleton's brother, Gary
Goldsmith, says that a healthy lifestyle has always been a top priority for Mrs Middleton.
"Carole has always looked after herself and eaten healthily, and she has a stunning figure.
That mentality of considering your diet and exercise is evident in the girls also," he
revealed on his personal blog. Before her 2011 wedding to Prince William,
Duchess Catherine reportedly followed the high-protein Dukan Diet to maintain her svelte
figure of which Carole is also a fan. The Middleton ladies are also big fans of
tennis, whether that's grabbing a racket and playing or dressing up to watch a match at
Wimbledon.
There's no doubt that both Catherine and Meghan
are mummies girls at heart and both Carole and Doria are always there for their respective
daughters. Duchess Catherine's cool and calm demeanor
is often compared to her mother's, and Kate has often relied on Carole as a pillar of
support. When Catherine became a mother herself, she frequented her old family home in Bucklebury-
in fact, the first official photograph of the Cambridge family when Prince George was
born was taken at the Middleton family home. A royal source said that after the birth of
Prince Louis, Carole was popping in and out of Kensington Palace, helping with George
and Charlotte. "Kate already has nanny Maria, who is fantastic,
but Carole's been an amazing second pair of hands."
And while her relationship with her father is fraught, Duchess Meghan and Doria Ragland
are two peas in a pod. In an essay for Glamour magazine in 2017, the Duchess of Sussex cited
her mother as one of the top 10 women who changed her life.
"My mum's a yoga instructor, but she does social work, as well, and she works specifically
with the geriatric community. For me to watch this level of life-long sensitivity to nurturing
and caregiving, but at the same time my mum has always been a free spirit. She's got dread
locks and a nose ring. She just ran the LA Marathon. We can just have so much fun together,
and yet, I'll still find so much solace in her support. That duality coexists the same
way it would in a best friend," she wrote.
One thing's for sure, both Mrs Middleton and
Ms Ragland have fabulous taste when it comes to their clothing, and they've passed it on
to their girls. Free-spirited Doria and her daughter Meghan
share that easygoing and relaxed attitude with their clothes whilst also managing to
look perfectly polished. Back when she was still Meghan Markle, the
Duchess said that she loves that classic but casual style that we've seen with Doria.
"I think as you get older you feel more confident and you don't need to put that much effort
in - to be able to throw your hair up in that very French way doing things. If your outfit
is on point, one thing has to be off for you to look perfect."
They may be from different generations when it comes to age, but Catherine has inherited
her mother's feminine and chic fashion sense. With their love of classic dresses and dress
coats, it's easy to tell that these two are related.