SOCIAL commentators have been gushing again about how Kate Middleton was a “commoner” who’s married into royalty. And, much as I like what I have seen of the delightful Duchess, if someone as posh as Kate is a commoner, I must be the social equivalent of a worm.

But her mum, Carole Middleton, certainly came from a background with which anyone can identify who wasn’t born gurning with a silver spoon in their jaws.

And, because of that, we should rejoice in Carole’s success. Not just because she looked refined at the wedding. Or that she has risen above being labelled an “embarrassing mum” for once chewing gum and allegedly using words like “toilet” or “pardon me”. (If anyone finds those words offensive they must live in a bubble… or a palace.) No, we should applaud Carole because she has achieved success through hard work.

We British have a tendency to knock people down who have made something of their lives but we should hail the Middletons, as the Americans would, for making a mint through their mail order business. Their achievement is down to sheer graft, which is something some might say is avoided by one or two minor royals.

Carole Middleton will spend the rest of her life treading a tightrope of etiquette but, so far, she’s not put a foot far wrong. In the old days, if you trod on the toes of a Royal, you could lose your head. Losing her head is something that shrewd Carole never looks likely to do.

And, however difficult the going gets, I’m confident there’s one Windsor you can guarantee Carole could get on with like a house on fire.

The one called Barbara.