Royals out in numbers as Pippa marries

AFTER turning heads at her sister Kate’s wedding to Prince William, Pippa Middleton graduated from bridesmaid to bride on Saturday at a starstudded wedding in an English country church.

The 33-year-old married financier James Matthews, 41, at a ceremony attended by the royal couple and tennis star Roger Federer, as she wore a couture dress by British designer Giles Deacon.

Middleton made headlines around the world in a figure-hugging bridesmaid’s dress at wedding in 2011.

William, the second in line to the throne, arrived with his brother Prince Harry at St Mark’s Church in Englefield, a quiet rural village west of London near the Middleton family home.

William’s wife, now Duchess of Cambridge, took charge of their two children, three-year-old Prince George and two-year-old Princess Charlotte, who were among eight young page boys and bridesmaids. William and Kate’s

William’s cousin Princess Eugenie also attended, as did 18-time Grand Slam winner Federer and his wife Mirka, reflecting Middleton’s keen interest in tennis.

The bride arrived with her father Michael in a Jaguar Mark V open-top car, wearing a high-necked, cappedsleeved dress with a corseted bodice and sweeping skirt, worn with a veil by milliner Stephen Jones.

She received a cheer from around 100 local residents and well-wishers from the village who were invited to watch the event from the green in front of the church. The presence of so many senior royals means security around the village was tight, and no-fly zones banning aircraft including drones were imposed around the area.

Local residents were reportedly given wristbands and asked to carry identification.

There was no sign at the church of Harry’s girlfriend Meghan Markle, a US actress, although she was reportedly due to attend the evening event.— AFP