Kate took Party Pieces to the top, says Carole: Duchess of Cambridge's mother praises her children for helping to make business a success

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Carole Middleton is celebrating the 30th anniversary for her business, Party Pieces

The Duchess of Cambridge’s mother, Carole Middleton, is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the family business, Party Pieces, with a booklet in which she credits her children — including our future Queen, the Duchess of Cambridge — with making the business such a roaring success.

‘Over the years all my children have played a huge part in it, from modelling for the catalogue to developing new categories for the brand,’ she writes glowingly. 

‘James established our personalised cakes, Catherine started the 1st birthday side of the business and Pippa developed the Party Pieces blog.

‘They grew up with me working and appreciate the demands of a busy business and a working mum, and although now they are not involved day to day in the business, I still value their ideas and opinions.’

And their banal party tips, no doubt, especially from Pippa, author of party planning book Celebrate.

Carole, 61, peppers her own booklet, sent out to subscribers, with ‘top tips’ such as: ‘Babies love the tactile feeling of balloons, so tie one to each of your little guest’s chairs for them to take home.’ 

She adds: ‘I hope my story inspires other mums out there who have a good idea to take the plunge and give it a try!

She praised her daughters, The Duchess of Cambridge (right) and Pippa, and her son, James, for playing a 'huge part' in the business 

‘It’s been a hard-working 30 years but I’ve loved every minute of it and would like to thank all the wonderful people I’ve met along the way, and all the dedicated staff who have helped me achieve this.’

After a stint as a British Airways air hostess, during which she met husband Michael, in 1987 Carole set up the party business that made her family multi-millionaires.

But it has faced constant criticism for cashing in on its royal connections. The royal-themed paraphernalia it’s hawked includes wigs for queens and princesses, inflatable crowns and flags featuring corgis. Before the royal wedding, the company launched a scratchcard, complete with crowns.

The controller of BBC Parliament certainly has a sense of humour. On Sunday, the channel re-broadcast the embarrassing debate held by MPs last January about barring the then Presidential candidate Donald Trump from the UK following his call for a temporary ban on Muslims entering America. It aired just hours after the President-elect tweeted his excitement about meeting with PM Theresa May, and just before Boris Johnson met with Trump’s transition team.

The channel denies it was being provocative: ‘The BBC Parliament Channel regularly repeats key news, occasions, debates and government milestones from the past. These form part of a historical record.’ Let’s hope no one in Trump Towers was watching.

Robin Page: Chris Packham's a pillock 

The Prince of Wales (left) with his friend Robin Page, who he invited to Clarence House for private talks

Although embraced by Prince Charles, who invited him for private talks at Clarence House last month, former One Man And His Dog presenter Robin Page is not toning down his outspokenness.

Rural campaigner Page called his fellow wildlife broadcaster Chris Packham a ‘pillock’ after the BBC Springwatch presenter wrongly claimed endangered lapwing birds were being shot in England. ‘Is it true?’ demanded Page, chairman of the Countryside Restoration Trust. ‘Pillock Packham says people are shooting lapwings? We spend our time saving them. Biggest threat? Packham’s foxes and raptors.’

Humiliated, Packham retracted his claim, saying: ‘Earlier today an incorrectly worded tweet about lapwings was posted on this account. Obviously they are not shot in the UK! I apologise for this mistake.’

As one of the world’s most famous authors, J. K. Rowling is used to getting noticed in public.

 Asked if anyone had ever doubted she was the real deal, the Harry Potter author recalls: ‘A drunk man in a bar squinted at me and said: “Are you J. K. Rowling?” I panicked and said: “No.”

“Yeah, didn’t think so,’ he replied. “She’s better-looking.”’