Here Comes Pippa: Britain's Almost-Royal Wedding on the Way
The groom is hedge fund manager James Matthews, who proposed last summer during a trip to England's scenic Lake District
By Gregory Katz ••
She played a memorable supporting role at sister Kate's 2011 wedding, but Pippa Middleton will take center stage Saturday at what looks to be the high society event of the year.
The 33-year-old is marrying a wealthy financier at the oh-so-English 12th-century church of St. Mark's in the village of Englefield, west of London — with a guest list of young A-list royals and reality TV stars looking on.
Prince William, a future king, will be there with his wife Kate, now formally known as the Duchess of Cambridge, and their two children, Prince George, 3, and 2-year-old Princess Charlotte.
If that isn't enough to merit a few photographs, there is widespread speculation that Prince Harry will bring his girlfriend, American actress Meghan Markle, to showcase their budding romance.
Here's what to look for at the almost-royal wedding that is kicking England's summer season off in style:
WHO IS SHE MARRYING? The groom is hedge fund manager James Matthews, who proposed last summer during a trip to England's scenic Lake District.
They had dated for less than a year — although had briefly been an item in 2012 as well — when he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him.
The wealthy Matthews has shunned the spotlight, but his brother Spencer Matthews has compensated for that with his role on the reality TV show "Made in Chelsea." He is expected to be the best man.
British bookmakers are taking bets on whether Spencer Matthews will be removed from the ceremony, perhaps for making an off-color speech. Paddy Power is offering 33/1 odds against that happening.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wardrobe watch
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge arrive by Tuk Tuk as they attend a special reception hosted by the British High Commissioner Thomas Drew, at the Pakistan National Monument, during day two of their royal tour of Pakistan on October 15, 2019 in Islamabad, Pakistan. Kate wore a glittering emerald-green Jenny Packham gown with metallic heeled sandals. Prince William was equally dressed up in a dark teal traditional sherwani, a formal coatlike piece, by Pakistani brand Naushemian.
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Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visit a school in Islamabad on October 15, 2019 in Islamabad, Pakistan. Kate donned a periwinkle blue traditional kurta with trousers and a scarf by local designer Maheen Khan for the visit.
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Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, arrive at the Pakistani Air Force Base Nur Khan to start their Royal Tour of Pakistan on October 14, 2019 in Islamabad, Pakistan. The Duchess wore a blue ombre shalwar kameez by Catherine Walker for her first appearance as she and Prince William departed their plane.
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Britain's Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge departs after a visit to the Hornsey Road Children's Centre in London, Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017. The Duchess saw some of the valuable family and parental support services which are delivered at the Centre, including those offered by the charity Family Action, of which The Queen is Patron. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
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Paddington Bear greets Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, at the Charities Forum Event on board the Belmond Britigh Pullman train at Paddington Station on Oct. 16, 2017, in London, England.
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Britain's Prince William, Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry attend a reception at Buckingham Palace, London, to celebrate World Mental Health Day, Tuesday Oct. 10, 2017.
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To the Last Post ceremony to mark the centenary of Passchendaele, the Duchess of Cambridge re-wears the white Alexander McQueen coat-dress she wore to Princess Charlotte's christening.
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Kate leads the bridesmaids and pageboys, including her son Prince George and daughter Princess Charlotte, after her sister Pippa Middleton's wedding at St. Mark's Church in Englefield, England, May 20, 2017. Middleton married hedge fund manager James Matthews.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrives at The Cridge Centre for the Family on the final day of their Royal Tour of Canada on Oct. 1, 2016, in Victoria, Canada.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrives to embark the tall ship Pacific Grace in Victoria Harbour on the final day of their Royal Tour of Canada on Oct. 1, 2016, in Victoria, Canada.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte leave from Victoria Harbour to board a sea-plane on the final day of their Royal Tour of Canada on Oct. 1, 2016, in Victoria, Canada.
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Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge attend a children's party for Military families during the Royal Tour of Canada on Sept. 29, 2016 in Victoria, Canada.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge are seen leaving the MacBride Museum on Sept. 28, 2016, in Whitehorse, Canada.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visits Mission Hill Winery on Sept. 27, 2016, in Kelowna, Canada.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrives at Whitehorse Airport on Sept. 27, 2016, in Whitehorse, Canada.
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Catherine Duchess of Cambridge attends a Goverment of British Columbia reception at Government House on September 26, 2016 in Victoria, Canada.
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Kate Middleton, seen here with Prince William, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, wears a red-and-white Alexander McQueen dress on a visit to Vancouver, British Columbia, on Sept. 25, 2016.
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Shoes worn by Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to Vancouver, British Columbia, on Sept. 25, 2016.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attends an official welcome and performance from Bella Bella First Nations community at Wawiska Community Hall on Sept. 26, 2016 in Bella Bella, Canada.
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Kate laughs with Sharon Johnston as they listen to Will speak french at the Official Welcome Ceremony for the Royal Tour at the British Columbia Legislature on Sept. 24, 2016, in Victoria, Canada.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, visits the "Vogue 100: A Century of Style" exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery on May 4, 2016, in London. The Duchess appears on the cover of the centenary issue in June 2016.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, departs Spencer House after attending a lunch in aid of The Anna Freud Centre on May 4, 2016, in London, England.
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In this handout photo provided by British Vogue on Sunday, May 1, 2016, the Duchess of Cambridge poses in Norfolk, England, for the magazine's centenary issue.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, attends a reception celebrating UK and Bhutanese friendship and cooperation at the Taj Hotel on April 15, 2016 in Thimphu, Bhutan. The Royal couple visited Bhutan as part of a week long visit to India and Bhutan.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visits the Taj Mahal on April 16, 2016 in Agra, India.
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Kate donned a vintage-inspired jade Temperley London dress with nude pumps and a matching clutch during a meeting with Narenda Modi, the Prime Minister of India, on April 12, 2016, in New Delhi, India.
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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, and his wife, the former Kate Middleton stand after laying a wreath on the martyrs memorial at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai, India, Sunday, April 10, 2016. The royal couple began their weeklong visit to India and Bhutan, by laying a wreath at a memorial Sunday at Mumbaiu2019s iconic Taj Mahal Palace hotel, where 31 victims of the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks were killed.
While attending a wreath laying ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of the final withdrawal from the Gallipoli Peninsula at the War Memorial Crossbrown Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (L) donned a tweed skirt and blazer by Michael Kors paired with black boots, gloves and an elegant fastener atop her head.
Kate was seen sporting this simple yet elegant red L.K. Bennett dress paired with a with a leopard DVF clutch at day nine of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships July 8, 2015 in London, England.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge stunned in a white Alexander McQueen dress coat and Jane Taylor hat at the Christening of Princess Charlotte on July 5, 2015 in King's Lynn, England.
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During the Trooping The Colour parade at Buckingham Palace, glowing new mom Kate wore a blue floral dress by Catherine Walker paired with a hat by Lock & Co. and a big smile.
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Stunning in a simple floral pattern Jenny Packham dress, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William pose for the media with their newborn daughter outside St. Mary's Hospital's on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
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In her final pubic appearance before going on maternity leave, Kate toured the Stephen Lawrence Centre in a bold pink double-breasted Mulberry coat on Friday, March 27, 2015.
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Britain's Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge meets veterans during a visit to the 1st Battalion Irish Guards at the St. Patrick's Day Parade at Mons Barracks, Aldershot, in England, Tuesday, March 17, 2015.
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Britain's Kate, Duchess of Cambridge takes a tour around Bletchley Park, near Milton Keynes, England, Wednesday, June 18, 2014.
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Kate shows off her baby bump in a mint green Mulberry coat for the National Review of Queen's Scouts at Windsor Castle, near London Sunday, April 21, 2013.
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Britain's Kate the Duchess of Cambridge attends an Autumn gala evening dinner and reception in aid of Action on Addiction at L'Anima Restaurant in London, England, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014. Kate is patron of the charity and met charity supporters during a pre-dinner reception.
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Catherine and William made a blustery visit to Calgary on the eighth day of their 12-day trip. Kate looked sweet in a primrose-colored, petal-skirted dress from one of her favorite designers, Jenny Packham.
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Celebrating her first Christmas as a royal, Duchess Kate donned a monochromatic look to the traditional Christmas Day service at Sandringham in King's Lynn, England. Kate paired a knee-length wine-colored coat with a matching Jane Corbett hat, along with black tights, black platform heels from LK Bennett, and a pair of diamond drop earrings.
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Catherine got festive when she used a Canadian maple leaf to accent a familiar dress. It's the same Reiss frock the Duchess for wore for her engagement portraits. The look was paired with a straw Anya Hindmarch fan bag, cherry red pumps and a red Lock&Co hat, as well as a maple leaf pendant on loan from the Queen to attend Canada Day celebrations.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (handbag detail) during an official visit to Bletchley Park on June 18, 2014 in Bletchley, England.
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Kate actually tends to favor commercial brands over designers: Here, the Duchess chose a Zara black and white geometric circle printed dress for the Berkshire wedding of longtime friends Sam Waley Cohen andu00a0Bella Ballin. She sported the same Ark & Co hat she wore earlier that same day to the Trooping the Colour parade.
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Duchess of Cambridge was somber in McQueen as she attends the annual Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph on Whitehall on November 9, 2014 in London, England.
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The young Duchess perfected casual in a sage green Burberry shirt tucked into cropped jeans as she boarded a plane In Yellowknife, Canada on day six of the tour. Kate paired the look with a thick brown leather belt and Sebago deck shoes in taupe.
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The Duchess of Cambridge made her first public appearance since giving birth when she stepped out with her husband Prince William to attend the Tusk Conservation Awards in London, wearing a full-length silvery sequined gown.
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Kate attended a special service at Westminster Abbey with other senior member of the royal family, held in honor of the 60th anniversary of The Queenu2019s Coronation. For the event, pregnant Kate wore a peachy pink lace dress and matching coat by designer Jenny Packham.
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Catherine arrives at St Andrew's Cathedral on April 20 for a Easter Sunday Service. The Duchess stuns in an Alexander McQueen ivory coat and a gray Jane Taylor fascinator.
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Switching to something more formal for the evening celebrations, Kate went for a long-sleeved purple Issa jersey dress that gathers at the waist. Again, she added some Canada spirit by donning the Queen's silver maple leaf broach.
Attending a ceremony to commemorate the centenary of the start of the First World War, Britain's Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, at the Cointe Inter-allied Memorial, Liege, Belgium, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War, Monday Aug. 4, 2014.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge's handbag seen as she visits an M-PACT Plus Counselling Programme at Blessed Sacrament School on July 1, 2014 in London, England.
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Kate chose a dove gray Katherine Hooker dress in crepe silk satin and a Philip Treacy fascinator for the Order of the Garter Service at Windsor Castle.
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Pregnant Kate, seen in a peachy coral pink outfit, visits Naomi House on April 29 near Winchester, England.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge leaves the Grenfell Tower National Memorial Service held at St Paul's Cathedral on Dec. 14, 2017 in London, England. The Royal Family and Prime Minister will join survivors of the Grenfell Tower at the memorial at St Paul's Cathedral for the six-month anniversary which killed 71 people. About 1,500 people are expected to attend the multi-faith service.
WHAT ROLES FOR PRINCE GEORGE AND PRINCESS CHARLOTTE? WILL THEY BEHAVE? Prince George will be a page boy and Charlotte — at the tender age of 2 — will be a bridesmaid.
It goes without saying that whatever outfits their parents come up with will be closely monitored, and copied by parents with young children for years to come.
Less clear is what will happen if George decides it's tantrum-time or Charlotte turns her back on the wedding party.
The Duchess of Cambridge told a palace guest this week that she is hoping for the best but admitted she is a bit concerned her children may act up. Her husband Prince William is still being ribbed for his poor behavior — he stuck out his tongue at one point — at his uncle Andrew's wedding in 1986, when William was just 4.
DOES THE QUEEN HAVE A ROLE? Palace officials say Queen Elizabeth II will not be at the wedding. Prince Charles and his wife Camilla also plan to miss the event, which is drawing only the younger royals.
WILL HARRY BRING MEGHAN? Suspense is building over whether Prince Harry will use the occasion to spotlight his relationship with American actress Meghan Markle, who plays an ambitious paralegal in the U.S. television drama "Suits."
Though they have only rarely gone out in public together, Harry has made his feelings for Markle known. In November he released an unusual letter calling for the press to stop intruding into her private life and saying he would do everything possible to protect her from unwanted scrutiny.
Escorting Markle to such a high-profile event would be seen as confirmation that the relationship is increasingly serious. Some expect Harry to attend the church ceremony solo, than bring Markle to the reception that follows.
WHAT WILL PIPPA WEAR? She looked terrific in a form-fitting Alexander McQueen dress at Kate's wedding, almost but not quite upstaging the bride, but is likely to wear something more modest at her own.
A number of British-based designers are thought to be likely contenders for one of the most highly anticipated commissions of the year, including Jenny Packham, Erdem, Giles Deacon and Philippa Lepley. Middleton is expected to wear a traditional, embroidered gown, most likely with the spectacular beadwork and detailing that mark high-end British fashion.
Pippa is expected to change into something jazzier for the reception planned at her parents' country estate in Bucklebury, 50 miles (80 kilometers) west of London.
Hatmaker to the stars Stephen Jones — also known for his veils — may also be involved.
