Sex, money, children... Pippa’s chat with vicar
PIPPA Middleton and her fiance James Matthews have had Christian pre-marital counselling sessions before they tie the knot later this month.
On the advice of her mother Carole, the Duchess of Cambridge’s sister had five meetings with the Rev Nick Wynne- Jones and his wife Harriet ahead of the wedding at St Mark’s Church in Englefield, Berkshire.
The Church of England’s voluntary marriage preparation covers topics such as in-laws and family issues, sex, communication, children, and coping with conflict and money.
The couple’s finances should, however, not be an issue for millionaire hedge fund manager James, 41, who has a private jet and a £17million house in one of the most exclusive areas of London.
The Church of England website says: ‘Alongside the wedding preparations it is also important to spend time as a couple talking through your expectations of marriage.
‘However much you think you have in common, you are still two separate individuals with different backgrounds, personalities, experiences, hopes and fears.
‘The minister who is taking your service will probably want to spend some time with you talking through these issues. Churches sometimes offer marriage preparation, perhaps as part of a group with other couples. This gives you an opportunity to think through possible areas of difficulty and how you will handle them as a couple.’
One source told the Daily Mail: ‘Pippa and James are a very solid couple but on Carole’s recommendation they have met with Nick and Harriet for five pre-marital meetings both at Englefield, where they are to be married, and Nick’s home.
‘By all accounts, Pippa was quite shy and James was very laid-back.
‘Starting a family is high on their list of priorities and both were really engaging when Nick and Harriet’s grandchildren, who were at the house, interrupted them.’
The Mail can also reveal several other key aspects of the ceremony on May 20, at which Prince George will be a page boy and Princess Charlotte a bridesmaid. The couple have invited so many guests to the church that more than 30 will be seated in the vestry. A sound system and screen will be set up for them to watch the ceremony.
And Pippa, 33, is borrowing a number of ideas from sister Kate’s 2011 wedding.
Florist Green Parlour in Pangbourne, Berkshire, is providing flower displays that will incorporate trees in a similar way to how Kate had the knave of Westminster Abbey lined with 20ft English field maples. The company provided some of the flowers for the duchess’s wedding.
Pippa has also gone to the same company that made her sister’s wedding jewellery – Robinson Pelham – for her wedding ring.