Inside Pippa’s wedding: And the mystery guest that could ruin her day
Pippa Middleton will have to pull off one of the most difficult balancing acts ever when it comes to her big day…
In many ways, Pippa Middleton, 33, is blessed. She’s pretty, popular and, in under three months, will be walking down the aisle with her handsome, equally well-connected hedge fund-boss fiancé, James Matthews, 41.
Yet, for various reasons, Pippa has a huge job on her hands to strike the perfect balance for her wedding, set to take place on 20 May.
While most brides might worry about flowers and seating plans, Pippa’s worries include things like… oh, being upstaged at her own wedding.
Firstly, as a non-royal marrying another non-royal, she will have to content herself with a much more low-key affair than her sister Kate’s regal extravaganza at Westminster Abbey in 2011.
When Kate, 35, married Prince William, 34, the budget for floral decorations alone was estimated at £800,000, and the bells at Westminster rang for three hours. Kate had some 1,900 wedding guests, while Pippa is thought to have invited around 350.
She will marry James in the Middletons’ local church, St Mark’s in Englefield, Berkshire. The reception will be held at the family home, in the nearby village of Bucklebury.
Then there’s the biggest elephant in the room. Harry, who has presumably been invited, may be bringing a mystery guest. And Pippa will surely be contending with the possibility that it’s a certain beautiful Hollywood actress.
It would be a disaster for Pippa if all eyes were not on her, but on Meghan Markle, 35 (who, if she weds her prince, could be welcomed into the royal inner circle herself).
Given the media’s ongoing love affair with Meghan, such fears would be well-founded. Just last week, she beat both Pippa and Harry on a list of ‘most eligible party guests’.
‘Party girl’ Pippa and fiancé James only made number 32 on the list.
No doubt Pippa, like any bride, will be hoping to make her mark, but she has to do it without looking like she’s trying to outdo her sister (especially after becoming the world’s most famous
bridesmaid when she held Kate’s wedding train, while wearing that figure-hugging dress).
There’s a whole other dynamic at play here, too – Kate’s own fears that she might take the attention away from her sister.
Just look at what happened at the Baftas on 12 February. Despite stars like Meryl Streep and now Academy Awardwinner Emma Stone walking the red carpet, it was Kate, looking stunning in a black Alexander McQueen ballgown, who was the big hit of the evening.
This could be why Kate has reportedly offered her services as nanny to all the children attending the wedding, including her own – Charlotte, who turns two in May, and George, three.
A friend was quoted as saying, ‘Kate wants her sister to be in the spotlight, so is taking a step back… she wants the day to be all about Pippa, and as smooth as possible.
‘Pippa is quite stressed with all the wedding planning, so Kate thinks this will be the best way to help.’
Yet, with rumours that Pippa and James may not even have George as a page boy or Charlotte as a flower girl, as Kate feels they’re ‘too young’, there is the risk Pippa, on the biggest day of her life, will be missing some of the people she holds most dear.
Lastly, there is the ‘wild card’ to consider – James’s brother, former Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews, 27, who last week injured his shoulder in a shocking fall on Channel 4 reality show The Jump.
A notorious ladies’ man, Spencer loves a good party, and past form shows he can be spectacularly mischievous. Will he behave himself at his big brother’s wedding?
You couldn’t blame Pippa if her head was reeling. Maybe, by the time 20 May dawns, she’ll be able to relax – well, perhaps just a little.