What a pleasant surprise! Duchess Kate had no idea that her younger sister, Pippa Middleton, was about to get engaged to her longtime beau James Matthews, a source close to the royal tells Us Weekly.
The news was “totally unexpected. She had no idea they were getting engaged so soon,” the source says of the Duchess of Cambridge, 34.
As previously reported, 40-year-old Matthews — who runs Eden Rock Capital Management — asked for Pippa’s hand in marriage with a stunning vintage-inspired diamond ring on Sunday, July 17, while on vacation in the Lake District of northwest England.
“Kate is so happy for Pippa,” the insider says. “She knows how much this means to her and how much she loves James.”
Pippa, 32, and Matthews went public with their romance in 2012 following the Celebrate author’s split from Nico Jackson. Since then, the lovebirds have gotten to know each other’s families quite well. Pippa’s father, Michael Middleton — who vacationed with the couple in St. Bart’s this past January — shared his excitement over the pair’s impending nuptials on Monday, July 18. He told the Press Association that he is “absolutely thrilled” for the future spouses, who he calls a “wonderful couple.”
Pippa, who many know for her unforgettable appearance in a form-fitting bridesmaid dress at Kate’s 2011 wedding to Prince William, ignited engagement rumors on Monday, July 18, when she kept her left hand hidden while posing for photos at the Frost Summer Party in London.
