Pippa Middleton got a lot of criticism over the weekend when she joined the Middleton family at the Sandringham church service on Sunday. Some of the criticism was about the whole family, that the Middletons had “pushed” their way into a royal family event, and apparently they had attended a post-church lunch at the Queen’s residence. Some of the criticism was Pippa-specific, because she didn’t seem dressed for church with her short skirt/coat and fur hat. The fur hat interests me, because it looks a lot like the same hat Kate wore a few times before she was a duchess, and because I honestly think it’s Carole’s fur hat. The Middleton women love to share clothes… sometimes. I bet Pippa would love to get inside Kate’s closet these days, but Kate won’t let her.
Anyway, people were also talking about Pippa because she and her brother returned to England for Kate’s birthday and this church service, but before that, they were on holiday in St. Barts. And they brought friends. Friends like… James Matthew, who is Pippa’s new boyfriend following her autumn split with Nico Jackson. You may recognize James Matthew’s name because he and Pippa dated briefly years ago, and because Pippa spent the night at James’ place just before she and Nico broke up last fall.
Pippa Middleton has found love again with the handsome – and terribly rich – brother of a reality television star. The Duchess of Cambridge’s sister, 32, ended her three-year relationship with hedge fund manager Nico Jackson in October. Now she is dating James Matthews, whose younger brother, Spencer, is the star of Made In Chelsea. A well-placed source said the relationship was tentative at first on Miss Middleton’s part but is becoming serious, and the pair – who briefly dated in 2012 – have now been seeing each other for two months. The couple have just spent eight days together on the exclusive Caribbean island of St Barts.
‘James is really into Pippa and she is falling into step. There is affection between them,’ a source said. Mr Matthews, 40, is an Old Etonian and chief executive of Eden Rock Capital Management, which he founded in 2001. His parents, David and Jane, own and manage the Eden Rock hotel on St Barts, a resort affordable only to the super-rich. But rather than stay at the hotel during her recent break there, Miss Middleton holidayed in a luxury villa in the hills overlooking Gustavia, the island’s capital.
She went with her brother James and his girlfriend Donna Air – who may have been a ‘decoy’ to deflect attention from her new beau. Mr Matthews also stayed with them, despite his parents’ hotel being a short hop away. The couple are said to have spent an idyllic week together at the villa, playing tennis and enjoying dinner at the best restaurants on the island.
‘James is behaving like a peacock, he is showing her his feathers and wants her to be impressed,’ says a source who knows the couple.
Miss Middleton and her brother arrived on the island on December 30 after flying out from Gatwick. The following evening, New Year’s Eve, they went to the Eden Rock hotel for dinner and watched a fireworks display at the resort. The group were spoilt for choice when it came to parties that night, with one hosted by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, who is a regular on the island, and the other by actor Leonardo DiCaprio. Mr Matthews and Miss Middleton decided to go to DiCaprio’s bash, and went along after the fireworks. However, it wasn’t for them – the source said: ‘They didn’t enjoy it that much – too many models, by all accounts.’ After a late night, the couple spent New Year’s Day relaxing.
The Daily Mail makes it sound like James is really into Pippa and that he’s trying to impress her? Do you believe that? I don’t know. Pippa was always known as the more charming, flirtatious, outgoing and personable sister, but in the past five years, Pippa’s mojo has definitely seemed “off.” Maybe this is the guy for her. Maybe.
Here are some photos of Pippa and her brother in St. Barts last week. His whole outfit is making me LOL.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and PCN.
I loved that they didn’t enjoy Leo’s bash because there were too many models. AKA Pippa didn’t enjoy not being the best looking one at the gig. I find it hard to believe Pippa didn’t enjoy rubbing elbows with celebrities, otherwise. Also, her hair/hairline annoys me.
LOL, that made me laugh too.
Pippa is so try-hard and thirsty that I get second-hand embarrassment.
Also, real fur or not, that hat is ugly.
+1 to everything you said.
Pippa relies on charm not good looks. And she only charms people that are of use to her in terms of social climbing and of a very particular pond of a social scene.
As braggy as it might be to attend this party, at the end of the day, it doesn’t advance Pippa’s social credentials, so why should she be interested?
If that had been Kate she would have been right in there rubbing shoulders with Leo and his posse.
Her hairline in the thumbnail made me think she was Caitlyn Jenner!
So much snark and shade in one piece – where to start?
IKR. The part about the models was pure gold, though.
That was hilarious, but also major shade in a weird way.
Leo knows models. LOADS of models. You see Leo you’re likely near about a dozen models.
That’s like saying I went to a race today and there werre way too many runners. Where 1 is the other will flock to.
@Florc, great analogy! Plus, with those types of chicks, there was no one to network with or suck up to.
Both of the Middleton siblings just seem so… Slimy. I get greasy, slimy vibes from that picture of the two of them. And the picture of her at the church service? She’s working that thirst so. Hard.
Yes. It’s none of my business since its not my country, but it does make me gag a little to see that family in the “church parade” with the Royals, looking so self-satisfied and smug. That’s petty, I know.
YES! there is a Thirst to them and an overeagerness to not be circumspect, to be followed and such, like you can see them barely concealing how Chuffed the are at attention
no wonder Mike looks drained. look at his family folk!!!
I agree that Pippa is thirsty and “try-hard” but I have some sympathy for her living in Kate’s shadow all these years. Both Middleton girls were expected to marry well. I think their mother poured all her energy into helping Kate bag the future King of England and Pippa couldn’t even land a titled aristo. I’d like for her to marry a very rich, generous guy. Hope this one works out. Ironically, I think Pippa’s outgoing personality and hustle would have made her much more suited to the “royal work” that Kate seems to hate and avoid.
Yes for a much as I don’t like the family Pips would have made a go at the duty side of thugs more than her lazy, vain and empty headed sister who has no interest in helping others unless it’s her family.
Yes-I think you’re right. Pippa would have been out there all the time.
Agreed. Pippa actually works harder for charities than her sister. She’s done sponsored marathons to raise money for causes consistently over the last five years and she accepted position as patron of a school for the deaf a while back.
But was she active in those types of endeavors pre-royal marriage or were those things taken up to enhance & up her profile? Although those endeavors are all worthy, they are also a way to network & meet the types of monied people she & her family would want to meet. Not everyone can pay for and/or involve themselves in charitable events taking place across various continents or even have the leisure or vacation time to undertake those types of activities.
@Dena, ITA. There is very little about Pippa’s public persona that isn’t calculating and shrewd. TBH, I find her and her mother much more interesting than Katie, despite the fact that they really rub me the wrong way. Pip’s has run through a couple of PR agents to market herself and I think she’s building her profile with the long game in mind. She wants a title, honorary or peer, and if she has to swim the Bosphorus strait or race across an African savanna, she’ll do it to rack up accolades in the name *charity*.
Well, her life will be a lot more fun and free than her sister’s. And James looks A-OK from the ankles up.
Those shoes though!
(To be fair: the shoes may not be horrible, but they’re atrocious with that outfit in that setting)
I’m rooting for our Uptradey. For a while there, she seemed like the Edith of the Middletons. Get that cash, Pippa.
Nico was probably a cover to allow Pippa to date around discreetly. I bet she and James Matthews have been together for much longer
LOL…Edith of the Middletons! Love that!
those pictures (pippa in a red bikini ‘playing’ with James and James in the sea) from the St Barts holiday in August indicate that you are probably right.
Well, Nico had been in Switzerland for a while, so you may be right. She could play around while in London while still seeing him in the land of the cuckoo clocks occasionally. The best of both worlds for her as the pressure must be on for her to lock down a Mr. Moneybags.
I’ll say this for the Middletons… you can tell they had a good, functional childhood because they’re always together and pleasant. That’s probably a big reason why they don’t care about moving on from their childhoods, even Kate on some level. I know some people think it’s weird, but the alternative can sometimes be horrible.
Poor Pippa. No matter what she does, she gets trashed. Hopefully, it’s only on this site. She lives in the shadow of her sister, with her dreadful eye makeup that makes her eyes look closed in and small. Her and Kate must have had a two for one coupon. I hope she finds what she is looking for.
Nope. Pippa was HEAVILY praised for quite a while. Around the Pippatips and france gun incident is where things crumbled. She was said to use the BRF lawyers to sue the satire pippatips people. The RPOs for her book tour, and WK PR put out a flurry of distracting articles when the gun incident broke.
Before that Pippa was the Midd sister with pep and hustle. She was praised as being someone who didn’t want to marry and not work. She wanted to earn her own way and make her own identity. She’s now a far cry from that.
So we have to ignore the 1st few years we knew Pippa as a BRF sister in law to say anything close to poor pippa cant win. Because she did for a good period of time.
So long as Pippa rests her laurels on being Kate’s sister and William’s SIL, then she’s chosen her own fate.
If Pippa can get beyond her ego and start doing things on her own without relying on her royal connections to get press time and got a real, consistent, day-to-day job, put her head down and nose to the grindstone, then who will criticize that?
As it is, both Pippa and James seem to rely on get-rich-quick schemes involving little work but loads of press and pap pics.
They can’t just live on being famous. They both need to stop trying to extend their 15-minutes of fame and just start working and living like regular people.
I have heard more about Eton in the last 12 months than I have ever heard in my life. When I was growing-up, that’s where Prince William attended school, full stop. Now I feel like I could provide you with a roster of their most famous alumni and then some.
The Windsors are overcompensating for the PR disaster that was Diana, by bringing the Middleton’s into the fold. It’s a pity that they’re the absolute superstars of social climbing and not quietly enveloped. I always sort of think Pippa got short shrift because everything was focused on Kate, Kate, Kate and those girls marrying (extremely) well.
lol… reminded me of “Marsha, Marsha, Marsha”
Why doesn’t she just date her brother? They seem so compatible plus it looks like they share shoes.
Well, at least it (the comment) wasn’t deleted. Surely none of you thought I was being serious.
But you know, cousins married cousins and half brothers with half sisters etc in medieval times even in less noble families; you know, keep it in the family. And Carole, we know, is a fan of that strategy for sure.
Besides, the last CB photo (the aura of closeness) was kind of reminding me of that icky kiss between Angelina Jolie and her brother.
Her brother isn’t rich enough and has no title. They already live together in a flat that mom and dad bought for them. No London townhouse in a fancy neighborhood in their own names. No country estate to run off to. It’s like two clawing pretenders marrying each other. It just won’t work.
anne_000
No, but what could work (for charity) is setting up a tv (pay per view special (all proceeds to charity; in this case, perhaps an incest survivors network?) where the Kardashians meet the Middletons somewhere in the Caribbean and the pressing issue (storyline): what do we do with the no good brothers? ie James and Robert.
You know a real meet up such as when Kate (of Kate plus 8) met up with the Palins in Alaska on that (doomed) camping trip.
@ Citresse
LOL!
James continues to live the good life on other people’s money, I see? If I had put money into his candy-branding business I would’ve been disappointed with him buying velvet slippers for hanging in St. Barts with Leo and his models instead.
Well that is the family trait, living off others people’s money as they are not as wealthy as they want us to think they r.
These guys are all terribly rich and terribly well connected and terribly into Pippa. For a short while anyway.
terribly so
It’s terrible.
terribly delicious!
Its all so terribly gauche!
Is it so bad that the Middletons attend some of the royal events? Their daughter is married to the heir. In many families, the in-laws participate in different events together as a larger, extended family. I’m not from the UK and don’t have much context around why their attendance being such a big issue. My comment is a question, and not meant to incite anger!
I really can’t see the fuss over this particular event – because it was not a royal event. They were apparently attending a birthday party for Kate and they all attended church together. Going to church is not a royal event – I go every Sunday! 🙂 There were other friends who were at the party in the group which walked to church (and some of them also looked at the cameras by the way). I’m not a fan of Pippa’s miniskirt, but otherwise I can’t see the problem. Surely going to church (even if one does not go all the time) is a good thing?
There WAS a royal event later, when the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh laid a wreath at a memorial to soldiers who had died in the Gallipoli Campaign in WWI. William and Kate attended that, but none of the Middletons, nor the other friends who attended church that morning attended.
As to Pippa and James Matthews – well he is not particularly good-looking, but he is rich and he does seem to like her. So good luck to her and him!
Was there precedence before of the Middletons going to church when celebrating an offspring’s b-day? Or was the only incentive to do so was because they knew the Queen was going and that there would be photogs present?
It shouldn’t really be an event to just go, but it is.
Its the fact that the thirst is real, too real. After 10+ years of being royal adjacent they haven’t learnt to tone it down
I would wear the hell out of James’ shoes. I really like them
I like ’em, too!!😁
Why would any proper in-law, for their own amusement and self-promotion, attend – uninvited- work events of their SIL’s family?
If Normal Bill’s family were door-to-door salespeople, would the Middletons invite themselves to tag along?
But this was not a work event – they were going to church. They did not attend the royal event which was held. All the people who were at the party went to church, James Meade, Oliver Baker, Laura Meade, Sophie Carter. They walked together. None of these people went to the royal event.
As to whether there was precedence for going to church or not – you don’t need that. You can go to church whenever you like.
@justme. It was a work event for the BRF as all other commemoratative events like this are. Even thou the public could join its still class as an engagement for the firm.
justme,
They aren’t remotely church goers given their general pattern of behaviour. How often have they been photographed going to church without a royal present (and they are frequently photographed without royals) ? They could have stayed behind while Waity and Willy did a couple of hours of their duty (they aren’t church goers either).
It’s obvious they are basking and preening in reflected glory. They are arrivistes through and through.
@Betti — the commemoratative event WAS a royal event – as I said. However the Middletons did NOT attend this event – the laying of a wreath for the soldiers who died at Gallipoli.
They went to church with the other members of the birthday party. I do not feel that it is anyone’s business whether they are regular church-goers or not. Why should they have stayed behind? Should James Meade, Lady Laura Meade, Sophie Carter and Oliver Baker also have stayed behind? They attended church as they have a perfect right to do. It can’t hurt them for heaven’s sake.
@ justme
The fact that Kate’s b-day party guests showed up to the church too, just when the Queen and Philip would happened to be there too, is proof enough to me that going to church isn’t a normal part of the Middleton b-day parties.
Also, the BRF going to church before the ceremony is part of the royal event, imo, because the main purpose of that day was the Galliopi memorial.
The Middletons are not known as church-goers, in fact, Kate wasn’t confirmed until just before the wedding. Confirmations usually happen around age 13-15. That’s how important church is the the Midds – not at all. This was just another pap occasion for them, hence the smug, grinning at the cameras and the attention-getting too-short coat and fur hat on Pippa.
Whether they are regular church-goers or not is not the point. I doubt if the other guests are either (attendance at services in the Church of England is at an all-time low.) However it was decided that Kate and William were going to attend. They seem to have invited all their guests. I guess the Middletons alone should have said — “Oh no – we cannot go. Our presence will upset people who will think we are pushy. We’ll just sleep in and lounge around in our pajamas. Sorry God.”
Royal reporters themselves stated that neither the Middletons nor the other guests attended the official royal event which was the wreath laying. Going to church was simply attendance at church which is not a royal event as the Queen seems to go every Sunday. The Queen probably considers that it fulfills the commandment “Keep holy the Sabbath” and is therefore not an event so much as an obligation. The main purpose of attending services is to worship God, not to lay wreaths. That came after and was not attended by the Middletons or the Meades, Oliver Baker or Sophie Carter.
As to people’s motives for going to church – that is between them and God IMO (and obviously nobody else’s opinion! 🙂 )
I want to add that the attendance at the Sandringham church service is listed in the Court Circular for the Queen.
So yes, it was a royal work event for her.
But the news media (ex: ITV and DM-iirc) say that W&K were not due to attend the wreath ceremony. So basically they coat-tailed onto the Queen’s royal work.
Kind of like how William coat-tails onto Harry’s work.
I still doubt if the Queen would regard church attendance as “work”. It is not a very Christian attitude, even if her attendance is counted as an engagement.
We were not talking about whether William and Kate “coat-tailed” off the Queen. We were talking about the Middletons attending church. Somehow this horrified people. Their countenances are described as “smug” – which may simply be what people read into them. They don’t look particularly smug to me – they just look like themselves (neither Pippa nor James nor Carole have particularly kindly faces, but that may be a consequence of having squinty eyes and thin lips).
At any rate if they attended church and did not pay attention to the service but daydreamed happily about how they would appear in the papers, this is not an insult to anyone except God and is a matter between nobody but themselves and Him. We cannot in reality look into anyone’s souls. I expect that the Queen did not trouble herself either. She may have thought that a bit of church could do them no harm. Certainly the DOE walked along with the whole crowd without looking very troubled.
This has nothing to do with religion.
Well it is about religion. The horrid thing that they did was go to church when they are not regular church-goers. Therefore they were being smug and trying to get their pictures in the paper near royalty. I guess the other guests were doing the same were they? Or maybe everyone just thought that going to church together after Kate’s birthday would be a nice thing to do.
I do not know what is in their hearts and neither does anyone else. I would never pass judgement on anyone for going to church. Even if their motives were not Simon pure, they might just get a bit of grace anyway. God works in mysterious ways.
They did not try to horn themselves into a royal ceremony. They are Anglicans attending an Anglican church for Sunday services.
justme
I would think if they attend church they would do so outside of service on holidays and with HM. When they claimed they had a family church that church said they hadn’t seen them in years upon years. The members claimed the same.
Go to church. Worship at home. It’s all your own personal relationship. However, if you only make it a point to go when photogs are present… Well, that is extremely transparent.
I like that saying.
Because you’re standing in a Church doesn’t make you a Christian anymore than standing in a Garage doesn’t make you a Car. – Billy Sunday (i think)
And you may wish the Queen doesn’t regard this as an event, but it’s counted as an event. Wanting something, expecting something to be a certain way doesn’t mean it is. Especially when it’s documented to counter those expectations and wishes.
@FLORC
I know plenty of “Christmas and Easter” Christians. When I have family visiting me, they often attend church because I do. And I don’t judge them any more than I judge the Middletons. They were at a party and the entire party (not just W&K) was going to church. Should they have stayed home? Would that have been polite and proper? All because their presence drives so many people crazy and they can be accused of being smug? And what of the Meades, Sophie Carter and Oliver Baker? Was their presence an offense as well?
Had they pushed themselves into the wreath-laying ceremony that would have been questionable. But going to church only on holidays and special occasions (like one’s daughter/sisters birthday celebration or weddings, Christenings etc)? From what I can see most of the members of the the CofE pretty much handle church attendance in this way. It is not my way, but it is also not my business.
Justme
Just to add…
If the Midds were Christian in their hearts then why claim to be churchgoers? That’s a lie. Why not claim they worship privately or just tell the truth? Or to start going to go and not only when photogs are near to document it.
This is a key piece that points to religion being for image sake above most else.
This is (as LAK puts it) for the sake of Optics.
Justme
To your comment of Easter Christians. We all know them and it’s fine to attend of course! No shade! Unless they claim they go all the time when they don’t.
However! This is not about that. We’ve drifted far off point. This is that the Midds only attend when photogs or BRF are present. Never outside of this.
THIS is the only point. That this is counted as a BRF Royal Work Event (whether you agree it should be or not). It’s not about Christianity because they only appear to practice when a camera is near. Even having tipped off a pap to catch them entering and leaving a service when all other journalist were given strict guards against photographing WK at the time.
More being thirsty under the guise of this since it’s only practiced when thirst can be quenched.
Bottom line. This was a work event. The Midds are in the BRF brigade like it’s also work for them. And loads of inlaws are able to do this without making it a big scene. They appear to make it about family and worship. The waving is for work and appearances that count in the final tally for the BRF. Let’s not make it anything more than this.
I know plenty of people who will mention a local church as their church and yet they hardly ever go. However they use it for baptisms and weddings. And go at Christmas and Easter (if the weather is ok). They will call in a priest or minister when they need comfort after a death. I cannot view inside a person’s head and I won’t do it.
Nobody has yet answered my question however. If invited to go to church along with the rest of the guests at the party, what should they have done? Said “nah – we want to sleep in” or get dressed up and go (although Pippa seems to have forgotten her skirt), as the Meades, Oliver Baker and Sophie Carter did. And why are those other guests not culpable as well? I’d be surprised if they were regulars at Sunday services.
And how do we know that they “tipped” off the cameras? The pictures were taken by Max Mumby who was there to take pictures of the Gallipoli ceremony. And photographers frequently are there to take pictures of the Queen when she attends church at Sandringham.
Whatever — we won’t agree. Have a nice evening.
@ justme
Yes, it would be and can be a scheduled work event for the BRF, especially since the Queen is the head of the Church of England. She does do and has done church events as part of her church leader status.
And again, it’s listed in the Court Circular for January 10th.
Very well @anne_000, I learn something everyday – thank you! As a Catholic I tend to forget that the Church of England follows different rules.
However does that mean that everybody attending the service is taking part in a work event? Or just the Queen? It would seem that the others attending the service are attending the service as a part of Sunday observance. It is not a public event like the wreath laying. It is private. We don’t see them receiving communion or praying. All we saw actually was a group of people walking into a church. I fail to see how that is participating in a royal event. Are the regular members of the parish participating in a royal event every Sunday?
I also would think that if the head of the Church of England did not want the Middletons to come to church, they would not. Since they were walking to church along with her husband, she must have known they were coming.
@ justme
The suspicion rests upon the timing and what seems to be the Middleton’s lack of regular church attendance, especially that of W&K.
Add on top of this the fact, as you say, that Kate’s b-day guests went along to the service too. Has that happened before? Is this an old Middleton tradition of going to church with b-day guests before they start partying or was this different, and especially so because they knew the Queen would be at the Sandringham church?
As for the suggestion that the Queen would forbid a future head of the Church of England from attending church service, I doubt she would do that. I’m almost positive that, rather, she would encourage William to attend as many services as he can, since that will be part of his future role.
W&K weren’t officially due to be part of the wreath ceremony. So who knows if their and their party guests’ attendance to the church service was let known to BP ahead of time in a timely manner?
Another thing, the Queen’s Court Circular lists her Sunday attendance to church not only for January 10th, but other Sundays as well. So I’m thinking that’s part of her regularly scheduled royal work as head of the Church of England.
Ole pips has a type – a wealthy financier. Wonder what his hard working family make of the lechers that r the Middletons. I feel for Pips, it’s pretty bad when u have to go back round all ur previous boyfriends to see who will take ur offer up. She would have made a better Duchess than Kate.
@ Betti
My thoughts, exactly.
I just wonder if the wealthy financier type would accept her. Apparently this Matthew family isn’t just rich but also rather – how do I describe this – “old money bankers” or “rich for more than 3 generations”. They might be not quite as stuffy as aristos but surely they have “spousal standards”, too.
actually James Matthews’ father was a car mechanic done good. He = Carole Midds. But this dude (James Matthews) is 40, nvr- married, megarich and has several model exes. Modelizer FTW. He and Pippa dallied in 2012. Will it work now when it didn’t then? Sigh, Pippa. SIGH. *weakly* get it gurl…
@ smara
Ooops, my mistake.
I confused Matthews family and this business called Jardine Matheson:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jardine_Matheson
Apparently Pips was once linked to Jonathan Jardine-Matheson.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/8495893/Royal-Wedding-The-party-hasnt-stopped-for-Pippa-Middleton.html
Ohh you mean Jardine-Paterson – JJ (Or James Jardine Paterson)
http://house-of-spencer.tumblr.com/post/62546358424/regalmajesty-jj-jardine-paterson-jj-jardine
– now he’s a cutie. He is the best looking of all her boyfriends. He is in hedge funds and a good buddy of George Percy and Ted Innes Ker, her University flatmates (that is how he met her.)
Her outfit is fine. It’s not like she’s wearing it with bare legs. She has on opaque black tights and knee high boots ffs
Slightly off topic — didn’t I read in the Fall that James and Donna Air had broken up ? That was fiction or have they re-booted it ?
James and Donna’s PR denied it. I think it’s off though. They have yet to confirm it like Niico and Pippa.
I was like “what’s wrong with his outfit?” until I did the scroll down. Oh honey no. skinny jeans and that footwear?
As for Pippa’s church outfit, it’s fine. She’s covered up enough.
For all churches i’ve attended it’s not. When a hem goes up that high and you sit down or bow a bit in it the hemline can be dangerously close to the bottom of your bottom. You must tug it down often or risk exposure.
It’s not my rule, but a general code of conduct. In most churches you should keep your hemline knee length or no higher than your finger tips.
Pippa’s body is like Kate’s with the long torso so there’s less room for this code.
That her coat is high and her hemline is not even seen is behavior of thirst.
Call me frumpy. It’s dressing to show respect. Not to show off legs.
Kate’s skirt is longer than it needs to be, but it’s lovely and appropriate imo. If it’s the length you’d wear to go clubbing it’s maybe too short for church.
@ Florc
I agree with you. When you go to CHURCH with your sister’s elderly IN-LAWS then do make an effort to blend in. No need to do tarty in church in front of the Queen.
@ paranormalgirl
As for Pippa’s church outfit being fine: just imagine how that outfit behaves when she sits down. And she would have to cross her legs in order to keep everything “covered”. She would expose ample length and shape of upper calves only protected by a black pantyhose. It is thirsty behaviour.
I am no fan of that.
PT
TY
There’s acceptance for losing the art of dressing to show respect.
IMO it’s the same as showing up to a class in your graduate studies in PJ pants. Or wearing ripped jeans to an office interview.
You appear like you cant’ be bothered to show respect for the purpose you gathered or for the other people there.
Maybe it is an English thing? I don’t think anyone would bat an eye at that outfit at churches in the US, outside the very conservative ones.
Imo…. if you go to church and you know the Queen will be there and that you might have to do a proper curtsy to her, don’t wear mini-outfits.
Don’t mean to threadjack but it is royal related and not sure if CB will cover it but did any of you read the 2 articles on the Fail site about Normal Bill turning up for a free school lunch with his rescue ‘copter and the hatched job on Harry ‘looking bleary eyed’ leaving a birthday party. No comment that James Middleton who was also there looking ‘bleary’ eyed as well.
The Fail are pushing this family hard, must have been one of the objectives from Sly Bill that was ‘asked’ at the super meeting a few months ago. Be nice to me, my wife and her grasping family.
This should be covered. It sounds like it’s along the terms agreed so the press could meet the children. And that meeting… shameless use of children for their own gains.
I saw the one about Normal Bill. Reading about him going back to “work” after a 3-week holiday, then just dropping in for a cafeteria lunch tested my gag reflex. Hope CB covers both articles.
There was also the pap photo of Kate shopping with George that just came out in an Australian magazine. Poor Jason is desperately playing the parent angle.
And no outrage. They’re fine with George being photographed in public as long as it serves their agenda.
Wonder if they will save and complain with a list like they did before. I still think Carole tipped the paps off for the petting zoo and beach trips she had the George.
Note that the b-day pics in the Harry story are credited to Jesal/Tanna… Tanna Tanna Tanna….. And with James Midds there, I wonder who tipped off Tanna? Hmmm…..
I hope William does something in return for the school…
Prob explains why Harry didn’t look too happy to see them waiting outside. James mugged for them/him.
I’ve come to the conclusion the Normal Bill knows and actively supports their leaks to the paps. He’s fully on board with their media hustling.
My theory of Pippa everything is that Nico Jackson was not rich enough for her. Sure he is a finance guy I think and now at a hedge fund in Switzerland, but his parents are normal-ish folk who run a ski shop in Kent. I speculate he went to the Swiss job to pump up his bank balance so he could give Pippa everything she wants. Cue “Everything She Wants” by Wham! right here.
Now the Matthews family, they are mega rich and own a lux resort in St. Barts. There’s a merger the Midds could get behind. Because I know the Midds are well off indeed but I’m sure Pippa (and her brother) are not going to be packing up party crap in the Party Pieces barn and want to be basically set for life, with lots of glorious vacations and minimal work (vanity-type projects only).
More complex.
First, I seriously doubt the Middletons would have been at church with the Queen had matters not been cleared first with her by William that they would be welcome. Queen Elizabeth is is practicing Christian, and as she is closer to her end on earth than before, she is less likely to be concerned about the “social class” bit you Brits are so obsessed about. It does NOT matter that the Middletons are not royal, because royal status came from winning wars/conquering whomever and is not based, in the end on human worth.
Before God, the Queen is NO different, too, than anyone else, and I am sure SHE knows this much better than those who take umbrage with her for including commoners in her circles.
She has a plumber in her maternal blood line; Zara Phillips is married to a working class man; Sophie’s father’s sold tires, and on and on it goes. These are all human beings who were “not to the manor born.”
Pippa MIddleton is not an evil person just because she ended up in the limelight and did NOT know how to handle it too well. She did not have courtiers helping her. Nor has she had bodyguards to protect her in her dating life.
Perhaps Nico Jackson pulled out — not her — because he couldn’t handle it. I wouldn’t want that kind of scrutiny. Also, I suspect (but don’t know) that James Mathews, having gone to Eton where William went, just might fit it as a potential brother in law better. There are a lot of things to consider in a marriage decision. It’s NOT just “the money”. It’s the comfort level of people getting on with each other.
Enough ripping people to shreds. It shows the worst of how the Internet is used. None of you who tear down people for all their warts would like it done to you. You’d crumble.
Ever heard of the golden rule?
Also, no one MAKES any of us read these articles.
Carole? Have a cup of tea, dearie, you’re getting so upset.
First, it’s just a gossip site; we’re poking fun.
Second, I agree that Elizabeth probably doesn’t have an issue with the Middletons lacking titles (though the Middletons probably do have an issue with their lack of titles. I mean they’re wearing their pinky rings and have their pro skiing coat of arms and after all they birthed Kate!)
Ha! @Tourmaline, I was thinking the same thing! This is gossip; it ain’t complex, LOL! I don’t know why some people think the royals actually read this stuff, but I do know that “no one MAKES any of us read these” comments.
@ Court
Why would William get permission from the Queen in order to take the Middletons to that church? QE2 is not the doorman, the church isn’t private iihc, and she’s not going to cause a scene.
The ones that seem to be so THIRSTY and obsessed with social climbing and titles are the Middletons. Why get everyone in their family signet rings, make acorns their family symbol, and a coat of arms? Why not just be happy with the ‘normal’ selves they were before all of this?
One doesn’t need courtiers and bodyguards when one gets press because of what one’s sister did. Is that what all family-adjacent people require when one of their members get famous? How about just using common sense and discretion and a bit of humbleness? It seems as if nobody in that family has these qualities.
The Midd’s side says that Pippa dumped Nico. Never mind that Nico moved out of the country.
Also, wouldn’t assuming that J. Matthews would fit in with William because of the Eton connection be linked to judgement by ‘social classes?’
And how would Eton figure into the Middleton family? I don’t think Michael and James Midds went to Eton. So by that standard, doesn’t that mean he won’t fit in with the Middletons? After all, he’s not marrying William.
When people make public figures of themselves, then they have to accept the good and bad of it. Other in-laws to the royals run away from the limelight when it’s shone on them, not run towards it, call their go-to pap photographer, and turn their faces and smiles to the cameras, and whatever else they’re doing.
So long as they keep wanting to stay in the limelight and try to use that to up their social status and their businesses, then they’ll get public praise or public criticism just like anybody else in that thirsty to be in the public’s eye. They can’t be protected from any and all criticism just because they want only praise.
Pippa’s style: terribly short for church and terribly tight above the waist and terribly ugly.
OMG it just took me a while to realize that that dude James is Spencer Matthews from ‘Made In Chelsea’s’ older brother. Now it makes sense why James was in a few instagram pictures with Spencer a few months back and I forgot that his family owns a hotel in St. Barts.
This whole “marrying well” (*cough*) thing aside, I’m always amazed at how she always gets a prospective suitor so quickly.
That’s what I want her to write a book about! Pippa’s social skills are amazing.
Or, a play, like As You Like It. With the line, “Sell when you can; you are not for all markets.”
Natalie and OHDEAR, right?! That is a book that I would buy! She must just be a lot of fun to be around. I hope that people aren’t ‘using’ her for her connections to the BRF. She didn’t choose who her sister married.
James Matthew, good luck to you if you marry into this family. James Middleton will probably come live with you like Rob Kardashian did to Lamar and Khloe. And since your initials are the same as his, he’ll probably consider your monogrammed items, towels, bathrobes, cuff links, etc. as his too. Considering that Kate’s taxpayers-paid clothes and accessories are considered OK for use by her sister and mother, I’m sure your stuff will be assumed to be part of Middleton stuff too. See Amner Hall and however they got the money for Bucklebury as references. Same with Uncle Gary’s money.
And good luck to wherever you live. Mama Carole probably can’t wait to be a self-appointed majordomo. Same with your parent’s St. Barts’ resort. She and her offspring will make that their third home, with the second being your home, and the first being Amner Hall. Your parents are going to have to comp a lot of stuff a lot of times for the Midds and their guests.
I don’t believe Leo and the Russian oligarch invited Pippa and J. Midds. Why would either want these two as party guests? Either they party-crashed or J. Matthews had some influence through his parents.
Right, I think St. Bart’s is going to be the new Mustique!
This is hands down the greatest assessment of the entire clan I’ve ever read. And I never thought of this: “Considering that Kate’s taxpayers-paid clothes and accessories are considered OK for use by her sister and mother, I’m sure your stuff will be assumed to be part of Middleton stuff too.” People always going on about how they pay for her clothes but I never considered this aspect of it… that is…wow, well summarised!
+1
James Mathews’ little brother is Spencer Mathews, who is on the English reality show Made in Chelsea. Spencer is a shameless lothario who has done things like cheating on his girlfriend in her own bed. So I find that connection interesting.
Given that none of us actually really know anything about Kate’s siblings, I actually feel rather sorry for them, particularly Pippa. It isn’t her fault her sister married into the royal family. I wouldn’t swap places with her for all the tea in China.
I agree. Plus to be criticized for actually having hard working, lovable parents and being a close family must be beyond annoying after awhile. Pips doesn’t doesn’t bother me but James’ shoes does. Yikes!
Is Carole Middleton lovable? In a general sense, if the person doesn’t stand to gain from their connection with her?
And I’m just going to say it: Michael Middleton creeps me out and always has. I know he’s supposed to be the Middleton with some restraint but he strikes me as being as sly and full of himself as the rest of the family.
That’s pretty much what was said about Kate during the girlfriend years except in her case that she didn’t chose to fall in love with William. I actually thought it was unfair she was called workshy. Now we know just how much she hustled and how determined she really was and that she really is workshy.
Nobody made Pippa put out that terrible book and no one made James have a security officer for William and Kate park his car. They absolutely hustle to take advantage of the money and freebies that surrond the royals.
The DM title “march of the Middletons”… I mean, with all the big fur hats, biack boots and James aka Tsar Nicholas leading the pack (gang), Amner has become little Odessa. I’m scared.
Is a fine else getting so tired of the word “thirsty?” It was used so. many. times. between this article and all of the comments. I don’t disagree with the sentiment when it comes to the Middletons, but I can’t wait until “thirsty’s” fifteen minutes is over with. It is such a tired expression by now.
Some people can really pull off a signet ring. James and Pippa cannot, they both look ridiculous.
I was in Chelsea the other week in a restaurant and this signet ring fashion seemed to be the in thing along with the loud Speke long tousled hair and the rest of the uniform. Mind the blokes were wearing socks which was a relief !