PIPPA’S SWEET SURPRISE
Kate’s sister shares her joy
She may have taken her time when it came to walking up the aisle with her on-off boyfriend, but now she’s married, Pippa Middleton is not dragging her heels when it comes to starting a family.
As her sister Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (36), was preparing to give birth to her third child, it was revealed that Pippa (34) is pregnant with her first. The baby is due in October, 17 months after
Pippa married multi-millionaire financier James Matthews.
“When Pippa found out she was pregnant, she was obviously overjoyed,” says a friend. “Pippa and James were always keen to have children fairly soon after getting married. They are so happy.”
Her family are also thrilled. “Her sister Kate and parents Carole and Michael were the first people she told after James, and they could not have been more pleased. Kate is delighted.”
Pippa and James (42) only told close family and friends about the baby after
Pippa went for her 12-week scan.
Friends say Pippa is excited about becoming a mum.
She took her time getting together with James. They first dated back in 2012, a year after Pippa became one of the most eligible girls in the world thanks to stealing the show at Kate’s wedding in her figure-hugging bridesmaid’s gown. Witnesses who saw James and Pippa dining together during that early stage of dating say they only had eyes for each other.
But by February the following year, Pippa had embarked on a relationship with hedge fund manager Nico Jackson
(39), which looked to be serious until he went to work in Switzerland. After nearly three years together, they went their separate ways in October 2015.
A month earlier, Pippa and her brother James Middleton (31) had joined James Matthews to take part in a charity ocean swim in Sweden. They raised money for a fund set up in memory of James’ young brother Michael, who died in 1999 on Mt Everest. Shortly afterwards, Pippa was spotted leaving James’ London home early one morning.
In January, the couple went on holiday together to the Caribbean island of St Bart’s, where James’ parents own the iconic luxury hotel Eden Rock, and by July they were engaged.
At the time, a friend said it was no surprise they had got together. “James is super-charismatic and charming, good looking and always held a torch for Pippa. They have always had insane chemistry.”
Pippa was a beaming bride at their wedding in May last year, and was also radiant when she was spotted walking her two dogs with a friend last week.
Insiders say she seems to be well – unlike her sister, who suffered from extreme morning sickness with every pregnancy – and is taking bespoke diet and exercise classes from an exclusive London gym to help her through the pregnancy and birth. The KX gym programme includes nutrition, exercise and physical therapy for the whole nine months, as well as postnatal care.
Pippa has been seen leaving the gym and is still looking svelte, with no sign of a baby bump. Her happy news means there is going to be a baby bonanza for the Middleton and Matthews clans this year. There will be six months between Pippa’s baby and Kate’s youngest, and both babies will no doubt keep doting granny Carole Middleton (63) busy.
Meanwhile, James’ brother Spencer Matthews (29), who starred in the UK series Made in Chelsea, and his girlfriend, Irish model Vogue Williams (32), are expecting their first child.
The baby news is a bright spot in what are proving to be dark times for the Matthews family. James’ businessman father David Matthews (74) was recently arrested in Paris following two allegations of historical rape.
One 36-year-old woman says she was just 15 when David acted inappropriately towards her in St Bart’s and Paris in the late ’90s. The second one has told police she was physically attacked in the English city of Sheffield in the ’80s.
David has strenuously denied the allegations, calling them “untrue and scandalous”.
It’s the second major blow for David and his wife Jane, whose hotel in St Bart’s was damaged by Hurricane Irma last year.
They will be hoping that attention focuses on the impending arrival of their grandchildren and not the serious allegations.