Kate Middleton’s parents have reportedly contributed a “six-figure sum” to help pay for her April 29 wedding to Britain’s Prince William.
Michael and Carole Middleton have broken with royal tradition by insisting they give some money towards Kate and William’s wedding bill.
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An unnamed Buckingham Palace source told the UK’s Vanity Fair magazine the Middletons had contributed a “six figure sum”, which William’s family accepted.
“It is something they absolutely wanted to do, and William graciously accepted,” the royal aide told the magazine.
While the Middleton’s offer is extremely generous by ordinary standards, it won’t stretch very far at this wedding, which is expected to cost more than $10 million.
Michael Middleton was a pilot, and met his wife Carole while she was a flight attendant. They founded party supplies company Party Pieces in 1987 and quickly became millionaires.
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Meanwhile, the itinerary for Prince William’s imminent Australian visit has been released. The royal will arrive in flood-ravaged north Queensland on Saturday, and will spend two days touring areas damaged by the floods and Cyclone Yasi, including Townsville, Cardwell, Tully, Brisbane, Ipswich, Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley. He will then tour Victoria’s flood-damaged regions.
William’s Queensland tour will follow a visit to New Zealand to attend a memorial service for the earthquake victims in Christchurch.
Your say: Do you think Kate’s parents should help pay for their daughter’s wedding? Would you offer money if you were in the same circumstances?
The Weekly will be tweeting live from London on April 29. Follow @AWW_London and @WomensWeeklyMag for the latest news and gossip.
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