Carole Middleton’s secrets and techniques to wanting unimaginable at 70: Her weight loss program plan (with purple wine allowed!), confidence in a bikini and the rationale you will not see her sporting trousers

Her daughter Catherine is the future Queen of England and one of the most photographed women on the planet, so it’s safe to say that most mothers about to enter their eighth decade would have no chance of competing with that level of glamour in the family. 

However, mother-of-three Carole Middleton – who celebrates her 70th birthday in Friday – has long been holding her own against her daughters Kate, 43, and Pippa, 41, thanks to her fabulous physique and youthful fashion sense. 

She has redefined what it means to be a modern grandmother, and has been seen walking the pristine beaches of St Barts in a bikini with the confidence of a woman half her age – and rightly so. 

Carole is often credited with introducing the Middleton signature style – polished elegance defined by tailored coat dresses, understated jewellery and voluminous hair.

But one item you will rarely catch her wearing is trousers because she finds dresses more flattering to her figure after her bust expanded in middle age. 

And her polished style even caught the eye of the famously outspoken late Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld who in 2012 declared that Carole, then 57, was ‘sexy’. 

‘There is something full of life about her. For a woman who must be 50 or so, I think she’s great. Full of energy,’ he told Grazia. 

Building the family’s fortune through her online party supplies business, which she set up at her kitchen table, certainly showed her sense of determination and work ethic. 

And it seems she brings that same energy to every element of her life.  

Her brother, Gary Goldsmith, who grew up with her in a council house in Southall, West London, credits Carole for inspiring Kate’s slim physique and Pippa’s passion for fitness. 

‘Carole has always looked after herself and eaten healthily, and she has a stunning figure,’ Mr Goldsmith previously told MailOnline. ‘That mentality of considering your diet and exercise is evident in the girls also.’ 

Here, we delve into the details of Carole’s disciplined routine… 

Sharing diet tips with Pippa  

Carole famously went on the Dukan diet, a high-protein, low-carb regime devised by French nutritionist Dr Pierre Dukan, before Kate’s wedding to William in 2011. 

She told a Sunday newspaper in October 2010: ‘I’ve been doing it for four days, and I’ve lost 4lb.’

As a result, sales of Dr Dukan’s book soared and, when asked the secret of his success, he put it down to two factors: ‘It works… and Carole Middleton!’

Carole, who has previously dabbled with a part-time vegan diet (also known as going flexitarian), is now thought to follow Pippa’s advice on fitness – being a former sports scholar at Marlborough College, she is something of an expert.

Both women are reported to favour the Sirtfood diet, which incorporates specific foods, such as kale, turmeric, dates, walnuts, blueberries, citrus fruits, capers and red wine. 

These foods are thought to ‘activate’ sirtuins, which promote metabolic health.

Yet, Carole still appears to be self-conscious about her bust, having said: ‘I’m bigger round my top half than I was, so that’s why I prefer dresses to trousers and I don’t like anything tight. One of the reasons I don’t like shopping for clothes is that there aren’t enough for women my age.’

Chelsea hairdresser 

After William and Kate’s wedding, Carole made the bold decision to grow out her fringe. 

She has been having her hair cut and coloured at Richard Ward in Chelsea for a number of years. Mr Ward styled Kate’s hair on her wedding day. 

The salon is believed to charge £400 to banish Carole’s greys – she now has a natural colour all over and has been growing her hair slightly longer. 

Celebrity-approved facials and fake tan

Carole enjoys facials at the celebrity-approved Knightsbridge salon run by Linda Meredith.

Ms Meredith has a coveted list of clients, including Victoria Beckham, Gwyneth Paltrow, Stella McCartney, Kate Moss, Julia Roberts and Colin Firth.

Her signature Red Carpet Facial, costing around £150, uses algae derivatives to relax the skin.

Designed for customers seeking visible results, it involves a thorough cleanse, tone and moisturising routine, with a blast of oxygen to plump surface lines and push oils deeper into the dermis. 

Carole is also thought to have two ‘very light’ spray tans each month.

Regular and varied exercise 

Carole’s £5.5million home in Berkshire features a tennis court, which she plays on several times a week. 

She is reportedly ‘very competitive’ and prefers singles matches to doubles. 

Carole is often spotted at Wimbledon alongside Kate or Pippa, and once had dinner with Roger Federer and his wife Mirka – the Federers are friends of Pippa’s and were guests at her wedding.

Kate and Pippa have inherited their mother’s passion for the sport. Kate plays at the Hurlingham Club in Fulham, and is reported to have said it is the one sport at which she can beat Prince William.

As a longtime fan of swimming, Carole also has a heated swimming pool at her home. It is said to be a great exercise for improving core strength and can burn off 500 calories per hour.

Another activity she favours is hiking, particularly in the surrounding countryside.  

Glamorous wardrobe

The entrepreneur has always chosen to dress appropriately, rather than to stand out. 

She started her fashion repertoire on a high, showcasing an elegant Catherine Walker coat dress for her role as mother of the bride at Kate and William’s nuptials.

Since then, Carole has continued to give a masterclass in how to dress for significant occasions, such as Wimbledon and Royal Ascot. 

At last year’s horse racing event, she chose a floral chiffon dress from one of Kate’s favourite brands, Self-Portrait, teamed with a coordinating fascinator and court shoes. 

Her wardrobe seamlessly combines comfort with style, frequently in the form of elegant shirt dresses, tailored coats and blazers with jeans. 

Prior to the royal wedding, Carole showcased a bolder fashion sense, often opting for striking pieces, such as a daring one-shoulder red mini dress and a geometric print frock with a wrap neckline and cape sleeves.