All eyes on Pippa Middleton
But young prince, princess join in ceremonies in England
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 eyeswere on Pippa Middleton on Saturday as she walked down the aisle of a 12th-century church wearing a custom hand-embroidered 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 page boys and bridesmaids, whowere 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 the church and were greeted by the groom’s well-known brother, Spencer Matthews, a star on the TV show “Made in Chelsea.”
Matthews, 41, smiled broadly and sported elegant formalwear 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 itwas 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 extremelywealthy, charming and handsome man.
The wedding plan was not without risks — including having such young children in the wedding party. But George and Charlotte — and the rest of the page boys and bridesmaids — did extremely well in public, winning hearts along the way in their custom-made outfits.
Tennis starroger Federer and his wife, Mirka, were among the guests.