From the outside, Pippa Middleton and James Matthews' marriage seems to be a
happy one. But there's still a lot you may not know about the couple,
so here's the truth about Pippa and James' marriage.
Pippa and James clearly had a good thing going, because they were dating for less than a year
when James got down on one knee. According to Vanity Fair, the two had briefly been
involved back in 2012, but at the time it didn't stick. Pippa was then with a long-term boyfriend,
but that relationship fizzled, and she quickly reunited with James.
Pippa and James' newfound fling went from casual to serious in what seemed
like no time at all — she quickly moved in with him. He then popped the question,
and after that, Pippa was spotted with a massive engagement ring on her finger.
The couple said in a joint statement that they were, quote, "delighted to announce
that they became engaged," and that they planned to get married the following year.
Friends also revealed that the engagement totally surprised Pippa. A source explained,
"Things got serious very quickly, but James just knew Pippa was the one and
vice versa. Their close friends aren't surprised by the news, just thrilled."
"It feels pretty special."
It helps when you're in good standings with the in-laws, and according to Vanity Fair,
Pippa's parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, were beyond happy about the news of their
daughter's engagement. And how could they not be? James, by all accounts, is a nice,
handsome, wealthy man. Carole and Michael told reporters that they were "thrilled"
about the engagement — and their sentiments were shared by none other than Prince William
and Kate Middleton themselves, who said that they were "absolutely delighted" for the couple.
The Daily Mail also reported that like William, James asked Michael for his
permission to propose to Pippa before doing so. A friend told the publication,
"James is a traditionalist and very much wanted to do things properly.
That meant getting the consent of his future father-in-law."
Despite the engagement taking Pippa by surprise, rumors about a possible
proposal began to circulate when the couple was pictured having dinner with Carole.
Mama Middleton is reportedly a big fan of James,
and it's hard to blame her — the man has a successful business, not to mention a private jet.
Prince William gifted his bride with his mother's iconic sapphire ring,
and it remains one of the most recognizable pieces of jewelry out there. And while
Pippa's engagement ring from James might not boast the same recognition,
it deserves to be highlighted for its beauty, elegance, and detailing.
According to Town & Country, Pippa's engagement ring is an art deco style,
and features an Asscher cut diamond in the center that's reportedly three
carats in size. It's adorned with diamonds surrounding the large center stone.
Art deco rings with the Asscher cut are not nearly as popular as cushion or round cut diamonds;
the style was very popular in the 1920s, but its frequency went down from there.
The Daily Mail reported that the ring is estimated to have cost James more than $270,000.
"She's got a £250,000 engagement ring. Of course I'm gutted."
While spending that much money on an engagement ring might not be the trend to catch on,
it wouldn't be too surprising if the art deco ring made a comeback.
James and Pippa's wedding ceremony was called the "society wedding of
the year." The event was attended by family and friends, and of course,
royalty — and it was as gorgeous as it was timeless. According to The Guardian,
the wedding was not as grand as Prince William and Kate Middleton's, but it still boasted an
insanely beautiful ceremony filled to the brim with flowers, A-list guests, and royal flair.
The ceremony took place in the village of Englefield at the St. Mark's church,
and lasted about 45 minutes. Nature seemed to be on the couple's side,
because it poured with rain minutes after the ceremony began,
and stopped just before the newly-wedded couple and guests emerged from the church.
To top off a truly beautiful wedding, royal cuties Prince George and Princess
Charlotte were among the page boys and bridesmaids who took part in the ceremony,
and they looked just as adorable in their "Sunday best" as you'd think.
Prince Harry was also in attendance, and was reportedly joined by Meghan Markle — who was his
girlfriend at the time — at the reception. Talk about the social event of the ages.
Pippa set the bar high for herself when it came to her wedding dress. According to Town & Country,
she stunned in the white Alexander McQueen dress that she wore to her sister's wedding,
so the world was watching to see what she would wear on her own big day. As People mag reported,
the dress Pippa wore to Kate's wedding was form fitted, and was made of an ivory satin
material. It also had a sweeping neckline, and was detailed with buttons down the back.
For her own wedding, Pippa went traditional, and stunned in a custom Giles Deacon gown.
The dress consisted of gorgeous cream-colored lace — much like her sister's lace detailed
wedding gown, and featured a high neckline and cap sleeves. The figure-hugging bodice
was balanced with the A-line design of the skirt, which trailed behind the bride as she
walked. Pippa topped her gorgeous wedding day look off with a Stephen Jones veil, a tiara,
and a pair of ivory satin shoes, according to The Guardian. Talk about a stunning bride.
While some people opt for a beach honeymoon full of relaxation and champagne drinking,
Pippa and James went all out on their honeymoon adventure. As People magazine reported,
their post-wedding celebrations started with a couple days spent in French Polynesia,
and then they made their way all the way down under to Sydney, Australia. There, the couple
were spotted getting on and off seaplanes, jet setting off to secluded lunch spots,
and taking water taxis to get to and from their destinations. To top off what seemed like a
very action-packed vacation, Pippa and James were spotted scaling the Sydney Harbor Bridge
in what can only be described as a thrill-seeking experience.
After that, James and Pippa continued to travel within the country, and spent three days
at a wild bush resort. From there, they traveled to Perth. Talk about a wild ride!
It sounds like they needed another honeymoon after their honeymoon just to actually relax.
In royal social circles, drama is as plentiful as the hors d'oeuvres. Before Prince Harry and
Meghan Markle stepped back from the royal family and moved to the United States,
they ran in the same social circle as Pippa and James. Of course, the in-law connection helped,
but the couples were spotted together a number of times, including a Christmas carol service
in 2018. According to People magazine, the service was the first event that James and Pippa attended
after the birth of their first child, and Harry and Markle were seen at the very same outing.
In an even more high-profile outing, Pippa was spotted with her sister Kate
and Meghan at the Wimbledon Women's Singles Final in 2019. According to Hello magazine,
the threesome watched as their good friend Serena Williams battled out a tough match,
and their emotions were on full display. Meghan sat next to Kate,
despite their presumed, prolonged tension, but all certainly seemed well at the tennis court.
Pippa and James welcomed their first baby, Arthur Michael William Matthews,
on October 15th, 2018. As noted by People mag, the baby was born in a private wing
at St. Mary's Hospital in London — the same place that his royal cousins, Prince George,
Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis were born.
"I hate princesses."
“Pippa doesn’t miss a beat”
"I don't know about that one."
The timing of the birth was actually among a whole lot of baby news for the royals!
It had just been announced at the time that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were expecting,
and little Prince Louis was only a few months old. On top of that, the couple seemingly used their
baby's name to pay tribute to their families, both on James and Pippa's sides; Michael is not only
Pippa's father's name, but was also the name of James' brother who tragically passed away in 1999.
The day after baby Matthews was born, Prince William and Kate Middleton released a statement,
saying that they were "thrilled" for the couple and their new addition.
And talk about cutting it close — just three days before giving birth,
Pippa was among the 800 guests that attended Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank's wedding.
Arthur Michael William Matthews got a younger sibling in 2021! Back in December 2020,
Pippa and James revealed that they were expecting their second child.
According to Page Six, a source close to the couple said that Pippa was overjoyed to be
welcoming another baby, especially after a very difficult 2020. The insider shared,
"Pippa and James are thrilled,
it's fantastic news amid a difficult year. The entire family is delighted."
In March 2021, Pippa gave birth to daughter Grace Elizabeth Jane. A source told People magazine,
"She's perfect, everyone is overjoyed at such a happy arrival."
The new Matthews baby is, of course, the cousin of Prince George, Princess Charlotte,
and Prince Louis. Additionally, unlike the kids' cousins Archie and Lilibet, who live with their
parents Harry and Meghan in California, Pippa and James are looking to move closer to their family.
The couple has lived in London for some time,
but were rumored to be in the midst of purchasing Bucklebury Farm Park,
a 72-acre country estate in Berkshire that's very close to the Middleton family home, in late 2020.
With two babies in two years, it's no surprise that the pair would want a little bit of help.
Kate Middleton has had three children, and has continued to look effortlessly glam
while being a mom on the go. It doesn't come as a surprise, then,
that Pippa and James turned to the royal for advice on parenting. According to Us Weekly,
Pippa asked Kate almost every first-time mom question under the sun, and a close friend told
the publication that Kate had an answer for just about everything. The source revealed,
"Kate has so much knowledge to share. She's a walking baby encyclopedia at this point!"
While pregnant, Pippa reportedly made a habit of practicing her swaddling skills
on baby Prince Louis, who was born in April 2018. She probably drew on this
knowledge again after she gave birth to her daughter Grace in March 2021.
Pippa also wrote in a 2019 article for her fitness column that the couple's "local baby gym"
was a lifesaver, and that their little man was already gaining movement confidence,
according to People mag. If one thing is for sure,
both of Pippa and James' kids will follow in their parents' active lifestyles.
The Matthews family was profoundly impacted by tragedy back in 1999. According to People mag,
James' brother, Michael Matthews, passed away at the young age of 22 while making his way
down Mount Everest. He'd just become the youngest citizen of Great Britain to ever
summit the mountain, and while he was a very experienced climber, he lost contact
with his climbing team and lost his life in extreme weather near the mountain's peak.
Since his passing, the Matthews family established the Michael Matthews Foundation,
which holds events and races to raise money for its causes, including access to education.
Pippa has been greatly supportive of the foundation, and even participated in one
of its charity races in 2016 — climbing the Matterhorn Mountain. Pippa revealed,
"Although I have raised money in the past for the Michael Matthews Foundation, it has now become
even more important to me and my family. Although neither I nor my brother ever met Michael,
we both share his spirit and passion for the mountains. We made this climb knowing
he would have been there nudging us on, and we are honored to be supporting his memory."
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