Pippa Middleton marries as royals look on at high-profi le ceremony
ENGLEFIELD, England — Two likely future British kings were there, along with one of the world’s most photographed women, the often-adorable Prince Harry, a multilingual tennis legend and a brash TV reality star.
But all eyes were on Pippa Middleton on Saturday as she walked down the aisle of a 12th-century church wearing a custom handembroidered gown with a tiara and long veil to marry hedge fund manager James Matthews.
Reporters, photographers and camera crews invaded the small village of Englefield west of London, home to St. Mark’s Church, and nearby Bucklebury, where a lavish reception was being held Saturday night at the estate of the bride’s parents, Michael and Carole Middleton.
Middleton, 33, is not royalty. But the star-studded wedding took on some aspects of a royal wedding, with well-wishers gathering outside the church grounds hoping for a glimpse.
She arrived in a vintage Jaguar to enter the church on the arm of her father. Older sister Kate, also known as the Duchess of Cambridge, looked after the pageboys and bridesmaids, who were all under 5 years old and included her own children, Prince George, 3, and Princess Charlotte, 2.
Prince William and Prince Harry, decked out in formal morning suits, seemed relaxed as they strolled into After her sister’s wedding, Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, leads the bridesmaids and pageboys, including her children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, who are immediately behind her.
the church and were greeted by the groom’s well-known brother, Spencer Matthews, a star on the TV show “Made in Chelsea.”
James Matthews, 41,
smiled broadly and sported elegant formal wear set off by a pale blue vest.
The new couple emerged from the church an hour later. The children dropped flower petals in their path before the couple celebrated their union with a kiss. Then it was off for champagne and, later, a short spin in a different Jaguar.
Ingrid Seward, editor of Majesty Magazine, said the Middletons could take pleasure in the day: Their first daughter, Kate, had married a future king, and their second daughter, Pippa, had married an extremely wealthy, charming and handsome man.
“You can’t do better than that,” she said.
Matthew and Pippa briefly dated in 2012 but became serious last year. He proposed during a visit to the enchanting Lake District, setting in motion what is being called the society wedding of the year.