This story has been circulating for nearly a week, but I swear I just saw it for the first time a few days ago. So, sorry if this is old news to you! Pippa Middleton and Nico Jackson have been together for… a while. I’m thinking about a year and a half, at least by my estimates. There were rumors, on and off, that Nico and Pippa would get engaged or were secretly engaged and waiting to announce it in a blaze of thunder-stealing glory. But none of that ever happened. And so now something unexpected has happened: Nico is getting the hell out of Dodge (London).
Pippa Middleton’s relationship is about to turn long-distance, with her stockbroker boyfriend quitting his job in the City to work for a hedge fund in Switzerland. Nico Jackson, who has been dating the Duchess of Cambridge’s younger sister for nearly two years, is heading to Geneva to take up a new challenge, the Evening Standard has learned.
The move comes amid growing speculation that he and Miss Middleton are about to get engaged. A source close to the couple, who were seen smiling and walking hand in hand at Wimbledon last week, told the Standard: “They are very much an item, their relationship is very strong and they are happy together.”
City insiders say Mr Jackson, 35, is leaving his role at Deutsche Bank next month to join Jabre Capital as an investment manager in Geneva. The $2 billion (£1.6 billion) hedge fund was set up by Beirut-born businessman Philippe Jabre. He previously worked at the UK-based hedge fund GLG Partners, where he was fined £750,000 for market abuse by the City regulator in 2006. At the time it was the largest ever fine given to an individual.
Jabre Capital’s founding partners include Dr Mark Cecil, a close friend of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, whose writer wife Kate helped Miss Middleton, 30, on her book Celebrate.
The Cecils have entertained both couples at their holiday home on the island of Mustique. Mr Jackson was spotted with Miss Middleton for the first time at the opening of a nightclub in Berkeley Square in September 2012. Last year his mother Ulrike, who runs a ski and sportswear shop with her husband Martyn in Folkestone, Kent, spoke about the couple. She said: “We’re very pleased. They are happy, and that is all that matters. As long as my children are happy, then I am happy.”
What are the theories on this? I have a few.
Theory #1: All is as reported. Pippa and Nico are fine and they’ll do the long-distance thing and it will all be great.
Theory #2: Nico wants out. He got what he needed out of his association with the Middleton family and he’s moving on greener pastures. He doesn’t want to marry Pippa and he will break up with her as soon as they’ve given the long-distance thing a “chance” for about two months. This will lead to “poor Pippa” stories and she’ll get to be, like, England’s “Perpetual Aniston” – a Miss Lonelyhearts figure, always unlucky in love.
Theory #3: Pippa wants out and she’s happy to see Nico go. Pippa wants to move on to bigger and better things. Perhaps she’s even planning a move to America. Which would be a mistake – her celebrity power is greatest in London. Despite what Matt Lauer thinks, America isn’t going to roll out the red carpet for Pippa.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN.
Pippa is over and Nico knows it? Pippa made one too many brilliant observations to Nico and he’s moving to get away from her, relief filling his soul as her parting words trail after him…if one wants to live in another country, it’s a good idea to move out of England…
Yeah and then I don’t have to see him in Pod or the lift every day
He wants out.
I read this from a Brit journo …He could see it wasn’t going anywhere and he played Pippa and her connections for his own good, in the end.
Nico is said to be quite the climber himself. Prior to Pippa he only dated Aristocrats, former girlfriends-sisters of Prince a William and European Aristocratic lady. Nico always surrounded himself with moneyed or banking people and dated within that circle.
People say he’s a cool, nice guy though, very charming.
@Francis – isn’t that what just about every rich person does throughout the world. Only dates other rich and well-connected people who can benefit them?
#4. Pippa moves to Switzerland?
+1
that would be too good to be true
No don’t send her here!
I’m going to guess this is a move to make more money so they can live the life a bit better.
Talie – +1 Theirs is a divide (for awhile) and conquer strategy. In a few years Nico will have enough money to buy the ‘right’ pile in the right neighborhood in London and then they’ll get married. Meantime Pippa will continue with her potpourri ‘career’/volunteerism with regular pap walks around London.
Pippa’s recent ass-undry activities – she played at a charity tennis tournament in Austria last week. She has some sort of deal with designer Carolina Herrera. She’s worn Herrera several times in the past month including a blouse for Lauer interview and dress/jacket/clutch at Wimbledon. Herrera posted photos of Pippa in her clothes at Wimbledon on her Facebook page.
I take Door #2.
I still don’t get why the media keeps trying to make her happen. She’s only famous because her sister is shtupping a famous guy. It’s like a classier version of the Kardashians.
Not really much classier, I’ve seen all of Kate’s body parts.,topless, bottomless, crotchet shots,rear without undies. Only thing missing is the sex tape.
The Middleton’s are the British Kardashians but Kim actually works harder than Pippa and Kate put together and I’ll bet Kim has made much more of her own money.
+1000
+Numbers and Green Arrows Francis!
The families have too many similarities. The only notable difference is 1 family has a titled member and signet rings.
And without a doubt Kim has made more money than Pippa and Kate. Just what she’ll get from her app will far pass them.
#4. Celebrity-hungry fund founder pal wants/needs publicity to attract investors, hopes to piggyback on Pippa-Royals link by getting Nico on board. It will work as well as Celebrate did (“writer” wife? A professional writer was involved in that mess?).
Pippa to NYC to work the other side for Nico.
Pippa isn’t that big in the UK either let’s face it the girl doesn’t have any real talent and now it looks like her rich guy has slipped from her grasp. I am going for the Nico is getting out of dodge choice.
“America isn’t going to roll out the red carpet for Pippa.”
I’m sorry, but yes it would. Let’s be real, she would only be in the major glamour capitals of the US like NY & LA and the people there will fawn.
I disagree. The US has many celeb’s, and Pippa is just a girl: she is not a talent. Titles are kind of meaningless in the US, although there are folks who have them. She could be Beyonce’s sister, and still not get the publicity she seeks. How many celeb’s can bring their family into the spotlight, for more than a minute? You might get ahead being Pres. Obama’s brother, but I still don’t know his name.
I think the aspiring rich, Lululemon and Lily Pulitzer crowd will fawn over her for a hot minute, charmed by her British accent and coy responses to questions about her sister and royal connections, then realize there’s not much there and move on. She’s the charity queen of sports, so maybe she’ll luck out and get a reporter job for NBC Sports. I can just picture Pippa in a locker room full of half-dressed, sweaty football players trying to look prim and important.
#PippaTip if your boyfriend moves to another country, it might be a sign that the relationship is in trouble.
I actually really love these two together. Theyseem like a good fit.
She is the human version of the Segway. Momentarily interesting and popular then becoming completely unnecessary to talk about or take an interest in.
i would be more interested in how the hedge fund makes money. those funds are not exactly known to be a morally good investment.
Nico Jackson is a cool name.
I have had a feeling all along this relationship was a filler until she can find an aristo to bag.
Rumours are that Pippa got played by Nico, once he figured it wasn’t going anywhere, he made the contacts around her, work for his advantage. And he’s moving on. ( I read this from one of the Brit journos commenting about it.)
Also Rumours are Carole and Pipstar ( my nickname for her) are still hoping to bag a full fledged member of Aristocratic society in marriage, so Nico never really had a chance in hell unless Pippa stops with the desires for an Aristo.
Uncle Gary, called it last Winter in some obscure article, he made a statement, they weren’t getting engaged. Gary knows his sister and he knows what time it is when it comes to getting a marriage past Carole. IMO
Love it when Uncle Gary speaks. They really try to keep him under wraps, but when he opens up it’s a treat. He’s an unfiltered Middleton mouthpiece.
I’m not sold on Pippa only going for a titled man though. Her and Nico did seem like a good fit.
Which titled aristo would want her? There are categories of aristos. Not every aristo is the same kind of aristo. I have heard of this hierarchy:
Lower gentry
Middle gentry
High aristocracy (Dukes etc.)
Maybe some experts could complete this?
About Pippa:
– no real talent except maybe sports
– no real ambition to exploit her talents or her possibilities (for example: working at her families’ company or doing some charity work. As workshy as her sister.) I think this might be a real issue ’cause all the aristocrats actually do at least seriously pretend to do something or to be passionate about something.
I mean for godsake she has a decent university degree which she could have employed for some benefit for something.
– she seems primarily focused on getting that MRS degree preferably with a title – that is boring! And I kind of think that any bachelor (rich and titled) who would look at her (the way a man looks at a potential spouse) he would see: no job few money no passion for anything.
– not really that much money (their fortunes were estimated somewhere 10-15 Mio Pounds, only Uncle Gary seems to be a bit richer)
– connections? Except for her royally wedded sister there don’t seem to be that many connections as the Middleton’s aren’t seen with the right people, are they?
It is quite astonishing that the Middletons as self-made entrepreneurs do allow their daughter to fritter away her life like that. Usually the self-made entrepreneur families make sure their offspring does devote time to something that makes sense.
FLORC – Uncle Gary +1000! Every D list celeb should have an Uncle Gary.
I don’t think Pippa got over that guy that dumped her after she became famous. I think he really broke her heart. She looks so sad and insecure all the time. Does she work? If not, nothing is stopping her from moving to Switzerland with her bf. The RF will be happy I imagine.
I agree. I believe she was heartbroken over the breakup with Alex Louden.
If you’re both in your thirties, been dating for nearly two years, and then one person up and moves to a different country, that’s not a good sign. That said, it’s a perfect time for him to pop the question!
Pippa needs to get with Harry already. They look good together, they got along well at the wedding and it would make for a steady stream of gossip mag stories for the next 100 years.
he’s sooo handsome
He looks like the ’80s.