With a royal sister, Pippa Middleton’s title could very well change one day—but not for the reason you might expect.
Pippa is the younger sister of Catherine, Princess of Wales—otherwise known as Princess Kate Middleton. The pair share a strong bond, often appearing at events together throughout the years. Of course, this includes Kate’s wedding to Prince William in 2011, where Kate broke royal tradition by asking Pippa to serve as her maid of honor. Pippa sparked headlines for famously wearing a white bridesmaid dress alongside her sister, and all the media attention quickly made her a household name.
In the years since, Pippa has taken a backseat to royal life, appearing only on special occasions—such as King Charles’ coronation—in support of her sister. But as Kate’s future as Queen Consort comes closer into focus, many have wondered about Pippa Middleton‘s title in relation to her royal sister.
For now, Pippa Middleton’s title is unlikely to change when Kate becomes Queen. According to HELLO! Magazine, Pippa isn’t royalty—and any change in this status would be somewhat “unprecedented.” However, that doesn’t mean Kate can’t give her younger sister more of a significant role in the royal family. For example, when Camilla became Queen Consort after her husband King Charles acceded the throne, she appointed her sister, Annabel Elliot, as one of the Queen’s Companions—a role equivalent to one of her “ladies in waiting.” It’s possible Kate could choose to appoint her sister Pippa to a similar role in the future.
All that said, there is a future where Pippa Middleton’s title changes without any relation to her sister. Instead, her future title will be thanks to her marriage. Pippa is married to James Matthews, a wealthy financier and former professional race car driver. Their wedding took place on May 20, 2017, at St. Mark’s Church in Englefield, Berkshire, England, where her sister Kate and brother-in-law, Prince William, were also in attendance. Pippa wore a custom-made gown by British designer Giles Deacon, which featured a high neck, cap sleeves, and a heart-shaped cutout in the back with intricate lace detailing and a flowing skirt.
While Pippa’s husband technically isn’t royalty, his father, David Matthews, holds the title of Laird of Glen Affric, a Scottish estate. Since James Matthews is in line to inherit the title of Laird of Glen Affric, Pippa Middleton could eventually assume the title of Lady Glen Affric. However, it’s worth noting that Scottish titles, such as “Laird” or “Lady” are not formally recognized as royalty in the United Kingdom—they are simply considered designations of estate ownership.
So, while Pippa Middleton will have a future title linked to her husband’s family, it doesn’t hold any formal status. As it stands, the timeline for this new title is also uncertain as it depends on when her father-in-law passes the title to his eldest son. Until then, Pippa Middleton can choose to go by the title of Mrs. Matthews of Glen Affric the younger in Scotland.
