Carole Middleton Reduced to Tears Over Michael Middleton’s Humiliating Remarks About Son James

In a recent revelation, James Middleton, the younger brother of Princess Kate, has shared deeply personal details about his educational struggles and how they impacted his family.

According to a new autobiography, James, now 37, admitted that his parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, were left in a state of emotional turmoil, particularly Carole, who was “reduced to tears” over comments made by her husband.

Michael reportedly described James’s costly education as a “waste of money,” further fueling the distress felt by Carole.

James Middleton attended Marlborough College in Wiltshire, an esteemed £32,000-a-year boarding school, where his older sisters, Kate and Pippa Middleton, excelled both academically and socially.

However, his own experience at the prestigious institution was fraught with difficulties. James admitted that he had to retake his Chemistry A-Level a staggering four times, a situation that left him feeling humiliated.

At the age of 18, after struggling to pass his exams, James was forced to take a gap year to focus on retaking his Chemistry A-Level.

Reflecting on this difficult time, James described it as a “humiliating record” for Marlborough College, as he failed to meet the academic standards expected of him.

The repeated failures led to a family rift, as his father expressed his frustration and disappointment.

In his candid admissions, James revealed that his father had remarked that the costly education they had invested in for him had been “a waste of money.”

For Carole, these remarks were particularly painful. The autobiography recounts how she was brought to tears over the situation, as both parents had poured their hopes and dreams into ensuring the best for their son.

Despite the academic challenges, James eventually secured a place at Edinburgh University, scraping in with the minimum required grades after a year of resitting his A-levels.

While he managed to get in, his struggles did not end there. He chose to study modules in criminology, environmental studies, and geography, believing they would be “pretty certain” to have multiple-choice exams, a less challenging format for him.

Unfortunately, James failed his first-year exams at Edinburgh University as well. This additional failure only deepened the emotional strain within the Middleton family.

Carole, who had already shed tears over James’ earlier academic setbacks, once again found herself heartbroken.

According to the autobiography, Carole experienced “more crying,” while Michael showed “more exasperation” with their son’s continuing struggles.

Despite these setbacks, James maintains that his parents had always wanted the best for him.

In an interview with The Times, James shared, “Mum and Dad just wanted the best for me,” choosing not to hold any bitterness or resentment toward his school or his parents.

While his academic career may have been marked by struggle, James acknowledged that he learned valuable life lessons during his time at Marlborough, including survival skills that helped shape who he is today.

Throughout his difficult academic journey, James found solace in nature and in the companionship of dogs.

He described feeling alienated from his classmates at Marlborough College and struggling to fit in socially, further adding to the pressures he faced at school.

As an “outcast” at the boarding school, he turned to animals, specifically dogs, for comfort and support.

“I was an outcast … alienated from my classmates. But dogs never judged me,” James wrote in his memoir.

His bond with the family’s golden retriever, Tilly, provided him with a source of unconditional love and companionship during these tough times.

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Carole, in an effort to help her son, often asked him if he wanted to bring friends home to stay on the weekends, but James admitted that he preferred spending time with Tilly over his school peers.

This love for dogs became a central theme in James’ life. As his struggles continued, he eventually got a dog of his own, who provided him with much-needed emotional support through his failures and setbacks.

The comfort he found in the companionship of his dogs became a refuge from the mounting pressure and disappointment he felt in his academic pursuits.

Although James’ academic journey was marked by failures, his memoir and interviews make it clear that his parents, despite their moments of frustration and disappointment, were always deeply supportive of him.

Carole Middleton, in particular, played a nurturing role, even if she was reduced to tears by her son’s challenges.

Despite the emotional strain on the family, Carole and Michael never gave up on James, and they continued to encourage him as he navigated his way through school and university.

James’ story is a reminder that academic success is not always a predictor of future achievements.

In recent years, James Middleton has found success as an entrepreneur, launching his own business and advocating for mental health, often crediting his bond with dogs for helping him through difficult times.

His personal struggles with education and the emotional toll it took on his family have become part of a larger narrative about resilience, family support, and finding one’s own path in life.

As James moves forward with his life, his experiences have shaped him into someone who values personal growth and emotional well-being, both for himself and others.

His family, despite the tears and frustrations along the way, have remained an integral source of support, showing that even in the face of academic struggles, a loving family can help one overcome life’s challenges.