Kate Middleton's younger sister Pippa is reportedly all set to get married. Pippa got engaged to her longtime boyfriend, financier James Matthews, last weekend while the couple was in Lake District of northwest England, according to reports.
Pippa had sparked engagement rumours on Monday when she attended a charity fundraiser and kept her left hand hidden from the cameras.
According to veteran reporter Richard Kay, the engagement took Pippa by surprise and the news of the wedding has delighted both Kate and her husband Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge's parents Michael and Carole Middleton.
Matthews, who is a hedge fund multimillionaire had asked Pippa's father for permission before popping the question. "James is a traditionalist and very much wanted to do things properly. That meant getting his future father in law's consent,' a friend of the couple told the reporter. Another family friend revealed: "Mike and Carole are very happy. They like James and they are sure he will make Pippa very happy."
The wedding is expected to take place next year.
It has been less than a year that Pippa and Matthews started dating. Although they briefly dated in 2012, they broke up shortly and the royal sister-in-law went on to date Nico Jackson for three years.
According to an E! News insider, Matthews is a far better fit for Pippa than Jackson as he is more outgoing. "Nico never really enjoyed the spotlight. James revels in it," the source shared. "Pippa loves socializing and, with James on her arm, there will be plenty more of it."
In May, it was reported that Pippa has already moved into Matthews' home in West London. But according to many reports, there's only one downside to this relationship – Matthews' brother Spencer. "There is some snobbery in the royal circles that the Duchess of Cambridge's sister is dating the brother of a reality TV star," the source revealed. "Spencer Matthews has a terrible reputation in the UK as a philandering womanizer and is horribly unpopular at home. For Pippa to be actually dating the brother of the lead character has raised many eyebrows, another reason why she is going to be careful about how the relationship pans out."
