Michael and Carole Middleton founded Party Pieces, a children's party supplies company in 1987. The success made them millionaires, and with it, they sent their three children to elite schools and universities, where Kate would meet William of England.

The company went bankrupt last May leaving debts of 2.6 million pounds (around 3.3 million euros at the current exchange rate), according to a report by insolvency specialists. The unpaid bills of Party Pieces include more than 612,000 pounds (713,244 euros) in taxes.