Pippa Middleton's quiet title change amid James Matthews marriage


The Princess of Wales' sister is celebrating her ninth wedding anniversary with James Matthews, whom she married on 20 May 2017


Pippa Middleton and James Matthews attend The Miles Frost Fund party at Bunga Bunga Covent Garden on June 27, 2017 in London, England.© Dave Benett
Nichola Murphy
Nichola MurphyLifestyle Editor
2 minutes ago
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The Princess of Wales has been bestowed a handful of titles since she married Prince William in 2011, from the Duchess of Cambridge to the Countess of Strathearn (used in Scotland) and the Baroness Carrickfergus (used in Ireland).

But she is not the only member of the Middleton family who will have a title change. Since her sister Pippa Middleton married James Matthews in 2017, she is set to become Lady Glen Affric when her husband takes over the Laird of Glen Affric title from his father and hedge fund manager, David Matthews.

David acquired the hereditary title after he bought the 10,000-acre Glen Affric estate in Scotland in 2008. Located in the Highlands, the estate features a private beach, spa, and gym and is a desirable holiday destination, with James' brother and Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews even marrying Vogue Williams at the estate in June 2018. 

view of glen affric with loch and orange leaves© Getty Images
James Matthews' family owns the Glen Affric estate in the Scottish highlands

Should Kate choose to visit her sister at the estate in future, she would be known by her Scottish title, the Duchess of Rothesay, which she inherited following the death of the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.

Recommended videoYou may also likeWATCH: Best moments from Pippa Middleton and James Matthews' romantic wedding

Pippa and James' wedding

Pippa and James announced their engagement in July 2016, after he popped the question in the Lake District.  

Wedding Of Pippa Middleton And James Matthews© Getty Images
Pippa and James tied the knot on 20 May 2017

The couple are celebrating their ninth wedding anniversary, after they got married at St Mark's Church in Englefield on 20 May 2017, with their nephew Prince George and niece Princess Charlotte as part of their bridal party. 

Pippa wore a floor-length Giles Deacon dress, with a high neckline and fitted waist, paired with Manolo Blahnik pumps and a handmade Maidenhair Fern tiara.

Milliner Stephen Jones designed her tulle veil, while the bride accessorised with the same pair of delicate diamond drop Robinson Pelham earrings that were commissioned for her sister Kate's wedding six years earlier. 

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge attend the wedding of Pippa Middleton and James Matthews at St Mark's Church © Getty
Kate's children Princess Charlotte and Prince George were part of Pippa's bridal party

The couple have since welcomed three children, son Arthur and daughters Grace and Rose. It's likely that they'll mark their milestone anniversary privately, since they tend to avoid the spotlight.

Family home controversy

Pippa, James and their kids live in a £15 million Berkshire home, which has recently ruffled feathers with local residents. They claimed the now-gated driveway, which was installed to "improve security", prevents access to footpaths that allow pedestrians to avoid walking on dangerous roads. 

The Matthews family are involved in ongoing hearings to determine whether the family of five will be able to keep a gate. According to the Telegraph, the dad-of-three told the inquiry in a written statement: "Prior to moving in, I had visited the house only a few times.

"I did not see any members of the public using the drive on those visits. There was nothing in the conveyancing process which alerted me to any public use of the drive.

"There are implications for my family, due to their high public profile, which means there is a need for a higher level of security than would otherwise be the case if the circumstances were different. Therefore, to improve security for my family, before we moved in, I arranged for an electric security gate to be erected on the drive."

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