Kate Middleton's mum eyes life change that'll affect George, Charlotte and Louis
Carole Middleton has claimed the party's over for her involvement in business Party Pieces.
The online company which sells boutique decorations and props for celebrations is said to have earned the Princess of Wales' family millions over the years, but friends of the Middletons have said parents Carole and Michael were looking to step away.
The Middletons however will enjoy once last blow out as they look to cash in on supplies for next month's coronation, which the couple is said to be attending.
The Party Pieces site is currently stocking various items for Brits wanting to celebrate the crowning of King Charles on May 6, including Union Jack hats, flags and bunting.
Carole, 68, founded the venture in 1987 while pregnant with youngest child James, and saw its rise from a kitchen table project to a global enterprise over the past three decades.
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Carole is grandmother to George, Charlotte and Louis, as well as Pippa Middleton's three childrenAll three Middleton children are said to have helped out in the business while growing up, with their expensive education at Marlborough College funded by its success.
The grandmother and husband Michael, 73, are now planning to retire, Mail Online reports.
A source revealed that "rather than just shut up shop", the family were looking for a potential buyer willing to take on the business.
"Carole has poured her heart and soul into Party Pieces and loves the business, but she's 68 and is there running things pretty much full-time every day," the family friends said.
The couple have been seeking business advice as they plan to retire (Getty Images)"It's too much of a commitment — she wants more time for family, gardening and travel."
The couple own just over half of Party Pieces, which purports itself to be Britain's leading party supplies company, and have appointed advisors to look into what's best for the business.
Despite its success over the years however, sources close to the family said they'd taken a hit in recent years, with the pandemic meaning many parties couldn't go ahead, while also suffering as a result of recent postal strikes.
Carole and Michael Middleton are said to be looking forward to becoming full-time grandparents (Getty Images)
Kate helped mum Carole with the business while she was growing up (Getty Images)Accounts from Companies House showed Party Pieces reported a loss of more than £285k in October 2021, resulting in a £1.35m hole in the company's profits.
"Carole's been explaining that it has been a terrible Christmas, made worse by the postal strikes," the friend said. She has emphasised that she'd like to continue doing business with [the suppliers], but would like terms allowing Party Pieces 90 days rather than the usual 30 days.
Carole Middleton started her business from her kitchen table (Instagram/PartyPieces)As well as running a successful business, the Middletons are also said to love their job of being busy grandparents of six, including Kate and William's children George, Charlotte and Louis and Pippa Middleton's children with James Matthews, Arthur, Grace and Rose.
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"It has taken her a while to come to terms with the fact that she's ready to step away and enjoy her time more," the family friend added.
"There are now a lot of grandchildren and she loves being a granny."
A spokesperson for Party Pieces said: "We are working with our advisers to secure additional investment which will help support the business as we look to embark on the next phase of our growth plan."
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