Kate's parents 'keeping low profile' after business collapse 'to protect daughter's reputation'
Kate's parents 'keeping low profile'
PA
Princess Kate's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, want to "keep a low profile" after their business collapsed to "protect their daughter's reputation".
Carole, 68, and Michael, 74, registered a company called First Birthdays with Companies House, which they planned to launch once their former business Party Pieces had been sold.
However, Party Pieces collapsed with debts of more than £2.6million.
Therefore, the Middletons have decided to give up the goal of running a new business and instead focus on their family.
Carole and Michael Middleton at the Coronation
PA
Carole and Michael are said to have "scrapped any future business plans to protect their daughter's reputation".
Princess Kate's parents were previously targeted by a vile hate campaign in Bucklebury, where the family lives.
Malicious messages were placed on lamposts and trees in the Middleton's home village.
According to reports, some suppliers are still owed money following the closure of Party Pieces.
Carole and Michael Middleton are the Princess of Wales's parents
PA
Companies House records show that Carole and Michael set up the "First Birthdays" business in 2006 to secure the name, but it has remained idle since then.
The couple signed on to keep it running as a dormant company in May of this year.
They later changed the address of the company on August 31 from Party Pieces Childs Court Farm to Carole and Michael's current home, The Manor Bucklebury in Reading.
A source close to the Middletons said: "The Windsor name took a minor dent when Party Pieces collapsed because of all the money it owed to hard-working people.
Carole and Michael no longer run Party Pieces
PA
LATEST ROYAL NEWS:
Carole and Michael Middleton want to 'keep a low profile'
PA
"There's no way that the Palace will want that kind of thing to happen again. The royals are meant to be inspirational for hard-working people, not those that are seen to profit from the loss of others."
Princess Kate's parents have now scrapped their intentions to continue running a business, the source claimed.
"The couple were busy planning their next move but have now scrapped any future business plans to protect their daughter's reputation," they told The Express.
"Anything the Middletons do will inevitably swing back on Kate, so it's best that her mum and dad keep a low profile moving forward."