Fashionable, royal, sibling to a duchess. These are all words that ring true for Pippa Middleton, who became wrapped up in the royal family with her sister Kate's marriage to Prince William. But how much do we really know about her?
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00:00Pippa Middleton was thrust into the spotlight when her sister became the Duchess of Cambridge
00:05in 2011. From simple beginnings to not-so-welcome public attention, Middleton has worked hard
00:11to earn her success on her own terms. Here's a look at Pippa's stunning transformation.
00:17Growing up, Middleton had a normal childhood, with a normal family and normal mealtimes.
00:23In particular, she's spoken about the family's meals each week and the expectations put on
00:28her and her siblings. She shared with Daily Mail,
00:31"...we were taught to eat properly and to eat together as a family three times a day.
00:35As children, we didn't have anything different. We always ate what our parents ate. We had
00:39to stay at the table until we had eaten everything. There were no exceptions."
00:45Even though she had a normal childhood, she did come from a family with money. With this
00:49lifestyle and her sister's future association with the royals, Middleton has had to deal
00:54with some harsh assumptions from others throughout the years.
00:58Middleton dislikes being called a socialite. She spoke with Daily Mail about the word in
01:022016. Reflecting on the challenges she has faced throughout the years, she said,
01:07"...people see me as someone privileged who has used my position to my advantage. That
01:11I don't really work, that I am a socialite. That word really irritates me, and that I'm
01:16a party girl without any substance."
01:18These assumptions are pretty far from the truth. As Daily Mail shared, Middleton worked
01:22hard since her teen years to reach her goals. She earned a sports scholarship for secondary
01:27school and studied English literature at Edinburgh University.
01:32As time has gone by, it's become clear that Pippa and sister Kate not only look alike,
01:37but share a similar style. Throughout the years, the two have been seen in similar outfit
01:41choices, showing that they've had similar transformations over time.
01:45From a good print to fabulous nude shoes and even the most stunning casual pieces, these
01:50fashion choices by the Middleton sisters have shown that they can rock any type of look.
01:56The big moment of recognition for Pippa Middleton came during her sister's wedding to Prince
02:00William in 2011. Unexpectedly, a great amount of attention was paid to Pippa's form-fitting
02:06bridesmaid dress, and her rear end was named the Top Body Moment of 2011 by People.
02:12Suddenly, the world sort of took a collective gasp."
02:16Middleton shared her simple and direct thoughts about the fame and chatter her dress caused,
02:20saying,
02:21"...I was surprised and still don't understand it."
02:26After the big royal wedding in 2011, Middleton was thrown into a world of press and public
02:30attention that was overwhelming. Middleton spoke to This New Way of Life that she had
02:35been forced to experience, saying to The Telegraph,
02:37"...it is a bit startling to achieve global recognition, if that's the right word, on
02:42account of your sister, your brother-in-law, and your bottom."
02:45In 2014, the 30-year-old Middleton spoke with Today about the struggles she has faced due
02:50to this intense public attention. She said,
02:53"...there is a lot of pressure I get in London, just my day-to-day routine. Occasionally,
02:58I might get followed by paparazzi. It's been a bit difficult. It's getting used to not
03:02being entirely private."
03:04It's even gone as far as bullying. She spoke to this as well during the interview, saying,
03:08"...I have felt publicly bullied a little bit, when I read things that clearly aren't
03:13true. I'm just trying to live a life like any 30-year-old."
03:17Pippa Middleton and her sister, the Duchess of Cambridge, have made sure to keep a sisterly
03:21relationship that is as normal as possible as the years have passed. During an interview
03:26with Today in 2014, Middleton spoke to this bond with her sister, saying,
03:30"...we spend a lot of time together. We still do a lot together as a family, and I think
03:34that's sort of the heart for all of us, is having a really close family."
03:39Being part of a close family, Pippa Middleton presumably considered it to be a big moment
03:43when she took on the role of aunt, first to Prince George when he was born in July 2013.
03:49She then became an auntie to Princess Charlotte when she was born in May 2015, and then again
03:54to Prince Louis in 2018.
03:56In her 2014 interview with Today, Middleton opened up about her love for being an aunt.
04:01She smiled as she shared,
04:03"...he's amazing. He's a very, very dear boy, and he's brought a lot of pleasure and fun
04:07for all of us, the whole family."
04:10Over time, Pippa has shown that she can add a few more titles to her list of skills, including
04:14writer and cook. In 2016, the 33-year-old released the cookbook Heartfelt, which focuses
04:20on, as the cover states, quick and easy recipes for a healthy heart.
04:24Although it's the heart's health that's a big focus with these healthy recipes, Middleton
04:28gave more details in her book about her own heart. She wrote,
04:31"...I heart family. My mother always says preparing a healthy and tasty meal for the
04:36family is one of life's greatest pleasures and pressures."
04:39She went on, later, to thank her family for their support through her creation of this
04:44cookbook, writing,
04:45"...I would also like to thank my family and friends who have been shamelessly used as
04:49guinea pigs, sometimes unwittingly."
04:52Pippa Middleton showed her ultimate expertise and style skills in May 2017, when the bride
04:58married her now-husband, James Matthews. She showed up in an amazing gown, fit for royalty.
05:05According to People, the dress was custom-made by British designer Giles Deacon, who shared
05:09that he was, quote, "...thrilled to work with Pippa on her wedding dress."
05:12The designer went into more detail, according to Business of Fashion. He said,
05:16"...I wanted that, how is that done factor? It's all hand-pieced, which is why you don't
05:21actually see a seam."
05:22Accessorized with a beautiful veil designed by Stephen Jones and an amazing tiara made
05:27by Robinson Pelham, the whole look was flawless. So how much of this was Middleton's vision
05:32versus the designer's? Deacon shared,
05:34"...She has a great eye. She knew what she wanted."
05:36In 2018, Middleton gave birth to a son, Arthur Michael William Matthews. Middleton gave birth
05:44at St. Mary's Hospital in the private Lindo Wing. This also happened to be where Kate
05:49Middleton delivered her children.
05:51Fans were able to follow her pregnancy journey through her fitness column for Waitrose, in
05:55which she wrote posts on how to exercise during pregnancy.
05:59Middleton offered up different advice for each trimester, as well as how to maintain
06:02strength during those nine months. She wrote in her first trimester post,
06:06"...sport and exercise has always formed part of my daily life, from gym sessions to weekend
06:11runs, ambles, or training for an event."
06:15Middleton welcomed a daughter, Grace Elizabeth Jane Matthews, in March 2021 and seems to
06:20be thriving as a mom of two. In an interview with shoe company Hoka One One, she opened
06:25up about how being a mom has kept her busy. But she revealed that she still finds time
06:30to exercise, albeit not as much as she did pre-motherhood.
06:33The avid runner said that while exercise has, quote, "...taken a back seat since becoming
06:37a parent," working out is still part of her weekly routine. She added,
06:41"...my running has been more after babies and toddlers than crossing finish lines, which
06:46I'm fine with for now."
06:48Middleton also said that she's sharing her love of the outdoors with her children, particularly
06:52Arthur.
06:55For more stories, visit nyseagrant.org