Yesterday, we talked about how Pippa Middleton and her terribly moderately wealthy husband James Matthews might have bought a moderately-sized estate pretty close to Pippa’s parents home in Bucklebury. That was actually the first time in a while that I had written about Pippa. I was so out of practice, I had to double-check to make sure that she only had the one kid, Arthur, and that she hadn’t announced anything else. Well, fast on the heels of the news about TMW James maybe buying Bucklebury real estate, Page Six has the scoop about Pippa’s second pregnancy:
Pippa Middleton is “thrilled” to be pregnant with her second child, Page Six is told. The younger sister of Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, already has a 2-year-old son named Arthur with husband James Matthews. The new arrival will be another cousin for Kate’s three children with husband Prince William — Prince George, 7, Princess Charlotte, 5, and 2-year-old Prince Louis.
A source close to the family told us, “Pippa and James are thrilled, it’s fantastic news amid a difficult year. The entire family is delighted.”
The couple, who wed in 2017 and live in London, are believed to be close to buying a 72-acre country estate called Bucklebury Farm Park in Berkshire, which is not far from the Middleton family home, according to recent reports. The Middleton family — mom Carole, dad Michael, Kate, Pippa and younger brother James — are extremely close.
Another pandemic baby! I wonder if Kate is getting broody yet. Zara Tindall’s pregnant, Eugenie is pregnant and now Pippa. Quick, to the Anmer Hall insemination chamber! Anyway, I’m happy for Pippa, I guess. We honestly barely hear about Pips anymore, she used to be way more scandalous and interesting. That infamous Tatler “Catherine the Great” cover story did name-check Pippa, with one unnamed source claiming: “Pippa now speaks like the Queen, too, and is absolutely paranoid about the paparazzi… She refers to her sister as Catherine or “the duchess” in public, which feels too regal and try-hard. Pippa is a bit lost now and is struggling to find her place. She’s always in the shadow as someone’s sister or someone’s wife.” Which is kind of awful, because wasn’t Pippa always more of a “star” than Kate? Wasn’t she more out-going and an even bigger social climber when they were younger?
Anyway, what royal name will this baby have? If it’s a boy, she’ll probably go with Philip or Charles. For a girl, maybe Elizabeth or Victoria. Try-hard indeed.
Pippa was seen recently in this photo she provided to the Mary Hare School, where she serves as “ambassador.” She gave them this photo to help them flog school Christmas cards. If those are Pippa’s own Christmas decorations, I guess TMW James is keeping her on a decorating budget.
Well done to all our primary and secondary pupils who received awards today for their Christmas card designs from our Ambassador #PippaMiddleton
There is still time to buy packs of 12 cards for £5. Visit https://t.co/OZRT4kDnkO pic.twitter.com/ExbhlQiLhd— Mary Hare School (@maryhareschool) December 11, 2020
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid, WENN.
Does she choose such names because her childrens cousins are royalty. Lol i wish she would go a bit more modern. Arthur and George are for men in their sixties 😂🤣
The same was said to me about my kids’ name, but it’s my culture’s tradition to name after grandparents. Hopefully my kids will name one of their daughters after me. It a huge sign of respect and the immigrants who moved to the US still hold that tradition very very faithfully.
Thank you for saying this.
If they named their sons Michael and Charles as a first name then this would apply to them but they are randomly taking names that “sound royal” so it’s not like they are specifically honouring their grandfathers in any way here.
Nic919, yes understood. My comment was aimed more when I hear people say: those are old people names, upon hearing my children’s names. So I always feel the need to explain my culture’s traditions in naming conventions for children.
I have friends who have named their kids Arthur, Charles, Michael, Elizabeth, and Katherine. They are rather common names in the US.
Both of my nephews are named for each great-grandfather who passed away (In Jewish culture, it’s NEVER after someone alive, only deceased, as a sign of honoring them. Also, you don’t *have* to use the exact name; you usually just use the first *letter* of the name, ie: if your deceased relative was named Mollie (like my grandmother was, you can use the “M” for Melissa, Marc, Marcy, Michael, Madeline, etc).
Funny anecdote: My mom’s parents (both gone now) were named “Max” and “Mollie”. My older nephew is named Max, after him. His girlfriend’s name is MOLLY! We all kind of love it 😊
I LOVE some of the old man names (not really Louis though, at least not pronounced the way they pronounce his name). I’m very in favor of old-people names coming back around 😁
Me too, I have a rather unique name and it is nice to be able to name my children after my parents, now have their names stand out due to their lack of popularity in the past AND not have them turn their heads with a sea of others when I call their name out. Only one head turns 🙂
I too love old man names. My 1 year old is Franklin (after my grandfather Frank who was born in 1920). He’s called Frankie at daycare and I just love it. I always wanted a little Frank. I love that it is old fashioned and well known but not popular.
She’s now part of the terribly moderately posh set, so is attempting to assert her place among the older, more established richer and posher set. You won’t ever find a Kylie or a Bronson in any of their families. She’s also long left behind the people who might have a propensity to call her child, “Arfer”.
Why is James called Terribly Moderately Wealthy if he lives in a 17million mansion and (partially?) owns that luxury resort?
It seems the real Terribly Moderately Wealthy guy in this family is James Middleton. How is that guy fine with just hopping and skipping from his mother’s to his bro-in-law’s estates, like some professional dweller is beyond me.
You’ve got to go back a bit. Celebitchy covered it some time ago. I can’t remember the exact details, but when one entered the other’s orbit, much was made of Jakes’s terribly wealthy family. A bit of digging evidently revealed that he wasn’t as “terribly wealthy” as first thought, hence the “terribly moderately” tag. Mind you, his wealth is nothing to be sneezed at. Carol and Mike are the quintessential stage parents. If they ever need a few quid, they should write a book on getting your daughter/s married off well. Now, is there a woman of considerable independent means that they can marry their son off with? That would be the ultimate hat trick.
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@AnnaKist is right. He went from being “Terribly Rich James Matthews” (TRJM for short, lol) and then some info came out that indicated he wasn’t quite as rich as had been previously presented. But still nothing to sneeze at like you said. So now we have Terribly Moderately Wealthy James Matthews, which to be honest does not have the same ring but still makes me laugh. I’m very easy to please lol.
His venture fund once had a less than stellar year and he had to take a reduced bonus. I think his firm has about $2 billion in investments so he is terribly wealthy and Pippa by far got the best deal of the Midd kids.
It wasn’t his bonus that was cut, it was his salary. In 2017 he “only” made 200k, and apparently his normal salary is a lot more than that. Again no one is saying he’s poor Mac, lol. It’s a running joke on here and we are going to keep making it.
I saw a toddler named Arthur just the other day. Those stodgy names are making a comeback.
Yeah it’s definitely the trend now! For girls too. My 4 year old son goes to preschool with a Louise and Pearl.
Yes they are! Henry is a grumpy old man name and there seem to be a million of them under 5 right now lol
My friend has a little lad called Arthur (and we aren’t even English), all those old names are coming back. He gets called Artie, after her grandad Arthur who was called Artie. Its pretty cute.
There’s a Tabitha in his class at school, these names are all fashionable again. I think they’re quite cute.
Old-fashioned names are coming back, but I also agree with others that I like naming children after family members (my oldest is named after my grandfather, but its still a pretty popular name…..even if its the name of the PWT lol, but my second is named after my father and that name is a bit more 1950s lol.)
What I find pretentious about Pippa’s son’s name is ALL his names – its Arthur James Michael (Arthur Michael james?) and I think there’s another name in there.
I think there’s a William in there.
Edit: just checked its Arthur Michael William
It’s pretty pathetic but then again that whole family has been posers for decades. I forget why William in there but if it’s not the first name of the father in law, this seems even more grasping than usual.
She probably did do it to sound Royal, but I will chime in and say I have two middle names and am in no way close to being Royal or rich. Just have a large family and my parents wanted to honor three people.
But, I do wonder about the “William.” If they don’t have a grandfather/uncle/beloved friend named William, I’m assuming that one comes from PW, which is just gross and thirsty.
There is a trend since a fews years here in Canada where older names are trending.
This baby announcement combined to meghan’s investment feels pretty weird, what a coincidence…
I’m not sure about the US but here in the UK these sorts of old-fashioned names are very popular. I’m pretty sure Arthur and George would both be in the top 10 most popular boys’ names at the moment.
That right there is why we have hoardes of Brixxtynleigh and Jaxxckson running around- because people are obsessed with having a cute name on a cute child, forgetting that they will be adults faaaaaarrrrr longer than they will be chubby cheeked toddlers. You name the adult they will be for most of their lives, not the kid they are temporarily!
Well, they boys will be old men for a lot longer time than they will be little boys. People tend to forget that kids grow up and in my opinion it’s better to choose a name that ages well than a name that is cute on a baby.
My mother decided to name me after her grandmother. I’ve never liked it because it needs a middle name otherwise it sounds super dry and old fashion which is my case plus it doesn’t go well with my last names. In addition to it her grandmother had a life full of chronic illnesses and while I’ve never met the lady because she passed long time before me and I know my mother adored her and she was a very very good person I’d wish she would had gone with my father’s choice which was a brand new name never used before in the family.
Anyway all this to say that most of the time these old fashion names are tied to cultural reasons which I don’t believe apply to Pippa’s family but if she likes one like that well good for them.
Congrats!
Not only she was more funny, but she used to do more charity work than her sister and her royal brother in law .
“Quick, to the Anmer Hall insemination chamber!”
I’m sorry but 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I second the comment!
That one gave me a laugh too….just the imagined visual of Kate running towards the chamber trying to get that pussy bow undone.
I never followed her, but I do remember her doing moderately more charity work… or rather fundraising stuff like cycling across the US.
Jame’s brother and his girlfriend/or wife were on an episode of “Your Face or Mine” – a show in the UK, and one of the hosts made a joke about with a picture of Pippa by saying she looked like she’d just spotted a hedge fund manager. And the lady immediately jumped in and said I don’t want to talk about them, they are extremely private. So she’s closed ranks around her
So after the earlier Pippa story, this is what I was wondering: when someone marries a Terribly Moderately Wealthy husband and has no intention of working…how does that conversation go? Like while you’re dating, you just say “Hey honey, just need you to add me to all your accounts because I’m never going to have any money coming in, but I’m definitely planning on spending on designer stuff, kthxbai”. Is that something that’s just assumed by the super rich? Do you have to ask? Do you get an allowance? It seems all sorts of awk.
How can it be awkward…Sugar babies and ladies who lunch have been around way longer than Pippa.
Omg, I’ve often wondered the same thing!! How does one date someone in a much higher income range? I mean I couldn’t take weeks off of work to go on a fabulous holiday let alone finance said holiday. I wondered about this when George Clooney used to date waitresses, did they quit their job? What happens when they break up and now they’re unemployed? If any fellow CBers have dated someone super wealthy please let me know how this works!
Agreed! And is there a conversation, or does the man just provide a credit card and it’s all just “understood”? Would love someone in the know to dish!
You just never take a serious job where you have to show up every day and limit your holidays to company policy. Like Kate, just more of a real job.
Has Pippa ever had a job outside of Party Pieces? I don’t think she had a job when they got married.
Appearance is important so these women will have a “consulting” business for real estate, interior decorating, closet organizing or “corporate strategy / marketing”…so they will have a LinkedIn page and dress like a business woman in the headshot to look independent, smart, etc….but there is no real income from this. This work flexibility for her (vs. having a real job) means she can raise the kids and take off on luxury vacations and keep herself hot while looking like a modern woman (instead of looking like June Cleaver to the outside world). I support top executives and these are their wives. Looking like a home-maker only, or a soccer mom only, is looked down upon.
@kat I agree the whole thing would feel awkward and ridiculous to me, but I think it’s just a very normal and expected part of traditional rich-people culture. The man makes the money and the woman “keeps herself up” (bonus if her name or family brings/helps maintain social and business connections).
Yes, I agree. Isn’t it the tradition, totally normal and expected for many in the posh set for the women not to work?
In my neck of the woods, we call them, “the ladies who lunch.”
It’s not awkward when that’s the expectation in those circles.
It’s assumed and expected. Most men who are wealthy are used to being asked for money by other people and charities on daily basis, and unless they are stingy, they don’t mind it at all. It’s sort of like another sign of their financial prowess.
The wealthy partner (usually the man) gives the other partner an extension of his CC, with a spending limit, and usually authorizes said partner to “add” items to their tabs at multiple places.
Once you marry, most bank accounts are co-owned and the non-working partner draws money and uses the CCs to make purchases/payments.
It’s like a Jane Austen novel in which the mother marvels at her daughters’ pocket money.
I think its something that’s discussed – most married couples I know discussed finances prior to marriage, I don’t think the uber wealthy are that different. My brother makes a good deal of money (especially for his area) and my SIL doesn’t work. His money is her money and always has been. But there was a discussion about it prior to marriage – if she would work, etc.
True Becks1 but I’m talking about dating someone considerably wealthier. I mean the average person has a job and may have x amount of vacation time available and x amount of financial resources available. I just couldn’t imagine having someone that I’m dating suggesting that I quit my job and they’ll give me an allowance. I am super curious as to how all that works. And what happens when/if they break up, is there a cash out for that?
My husband sold a patent to a medical device company for a ton of money and makes 10X more than me in his normal job, even when I worked in Big Law making what I thought was a lot of money. This is going to sound incredibly not romantic, but I’m an attorney and I wanted my bases covered when I had a kid and cut back to part time, I had an agreement drawn up. He was a good sport and got a kick out of it, but it said that X% of his day job pay would be direct deposited into my account every month when he gets his normal paycheck. Even before we had a kid, he used to just deposit money in my account without saying anything. The family law attorney that I used said that it’s common practice to have a written agreement with a lot of couples when one makes a tiny fraction of what the other makes.
@Harla – I don’t know lol, I never dated anyone rich! but I think its part of the whole cycle of it. I went to college with a lot of big money types and they all definitely hung out together, for the most part the school was segregated by how much money you had. I hung out with some people who were in upper upper crusts, but it was never anything serious (even as friends) and I do think that’s part of it. “where are you going for spring break? I’m going to Switzerland so I can go skydiving over the Alps.” Meanwhile I would go home, lol. And that combination of money and vacation time, even then (bc they didn’t have to work or have summer jobs etc) created a divide and I think we see that play out in many social circles. Would William have dated Kate if she hadn’t been constantly available to him, which she was only bc of Uncle Gary and whatever Middleton money there is/was?
@Flamingo – that is very smart! Maybe not romantic like you said lol, but smart.
A friend of mine dated a rich guy for 5 years. Her life was on hold for him. Oh he also was married with 4 kids in top of his business. So when he had time he would call her and send her his driver to pick her. Later he bought her a nice car. The arrangement started with small sums of money of “don’t want to offend you but please buy something nice for yourself as I had no time” to “here, go shopping while I finish this meeting”. By the end he bought her an apartment and found her a good job in a government position so she would have an income and dumped her. Truth be told she knew who he was he never lied to her and he treated her well but when she turned 30 and wanted a baby he freaked out. She has left me in the middle of my birthday dinner to go meet him. His wishes were orders for her.
Wow, a car, an apartment, and a job. I clearly dated the wrong people in my youth.
damn that twitter pic…she has aged like milk.
chip off the old block like her mama
and not in a nice way
Disagree about Carole. I think she is prettier and has aged better than either of her daughters. She is 65.
I think Carole is pretty too! Petty but pretty. And I like Pippa’s smile but I don’t think she invested in sunscreen!
Well I’m 58 with nary a wrinkle and I don’t use product and barely sun screen and I live in a hot climate. It’s mostly genetics plus some skin prep. My skin is better than both of those girls (but no fillers or botox). I am fatter, maybe their thinness is part of it
I thought the same. which makes me wonder, I know she has money and can afford whom ever and what ever Kate uses.
I think the hair style doesn’t do her any favor.
@misdimeanour
That is what a lot of late thirties women look like. Y’all are simply used to seeing all the filters now, instead of the real thing. Plus many thin women age faster. (Not all. Many.) And I think the Middleton girls tend to starve themselves as well which doesn’t help.
Congrats to Pippa. I dont mind her.
@soupie Yeah, I think she looks fine. Her hair looks terrible, but that’s style, not age. She looks to be aging much better than Kate to me. And Carole, though she seems like a crappy person, looks amazing.
Yeah Pippa looks fine aka her age to me.
I agree soupie, this is what most people that age look like, especially on camera if they aren’t using filters and photoshop etc. We are so accustomed to seeing people filtered into perfection we think that’s how people should look and it’s not. It’s so damaging
late-30s person here and I’m agreeing with you. 🙂 She definitely looks better than I do!
Sidenote: eek, late 30s, how and when did that happen… my college boyfriend’s birthday is this week. I said happy birthday to him, and he responded that we’re now middle-aged.
I’m kind of surprised how bad that picture is! The smile is so forced too and wtf is that scraggly tree?! Maybe it’s first trimester exhaustion.
Oof. I disagree. I like her without all the makeup and fake tan and I think she looks nice/normal.
I think she looks fine, maybe a little tired from her pregnancy. As someone who looked like the dog’s dinner during pregnancy (HG) I sympathize.
Good catch Minx, I did not think to factor in a pregnancy, There is a saying my grandparents used to say (when they could not identify gender during pregnancy): A boy adds beauty to the mother and a girl drains her beauty – temporarily of course.
She looks better with her hair pulled back. That center part is doing her no favors.
Congratulations! Surprised a US tabloid broke it and not a UK one like Hello, Daily Mail etc etc.
But I’ve often said that I think if Kate and Pippa’s lives were switched, they might be happier? Pippa gets a title, money, interest in her and she seems to genuinely like doing some charity work even if very little whereas Kate gets the “lady who lunches” lifestyle and zero expectations of “work”
@sofia I agree – I think Pippa would enjoy the spotlight in a way Kate doesn’t. I know Kate likes to be the center of media attention, but she doesn’t seem to do well with all eyes on her in real life. I think Pippa would. Pippa just has/had more “spark.”
I agree. Kate wants to be a HRH Duchess/Princess (later) and later HM The Queen but she absolutely doesn’t seem to like the public role of it. Which is something she should have thought about before marrying the future future King.
I think William, aware or not was looking for someone who would be passive to him and that was not Pippa.
I agree in fact. I think Pippa would have tried to “suppress” her personality/self but she seems to be the one with the most personality amongst her siblings and only if I’m comparing her to her brother and sister’s.
In general however (outside her siblings), she’s not particularly interesting or very charismatic IMO
True! Pippa tried to be Meghan before Meghan in a way with the articles and lifestyle influencer thing with Celebrate, she just wasn’t any good at it.
Agreed. I think Pippa has a bit more “hustle” and is probably more similar to Carole. I also think she’s more interesting than Kate, but “more interesting than Kate” is a low bar.
I wondered about Arthur too. What other royal name indeed. PS she has ‘royal’ patronage! She’s the terribly moderately ‘royal ‘ pippa?
Should say congratulations to them
Wasn’t the family given a coat of arms right before the wedding, with like an acorn? Ha, a tough nut nut indeed that Ma Middleton. I guess that makes them royal???
Congrats to Pippa! I don’t mind Pippa. think she would have made way more of the royal role then Kate. I wonder why/how Page 6 got this. Are they trying to make her happen in the US?
It’s the Middletons. They’re always trying to make themselves happen.
A baby is happy news!
I read the first line as: “Pippa Middleton is thrilled to be pregnant with her second child, Page Six” and I think the name Page Six is quite catchy! 😆
I really like her wedding gown!
It is astonishing when you remember the Middletons are presented as this tremendous success story. 3 children with the best educations money can buy, and not a single professional or career person. I read an article about Pippa talking about how people in high school believed she would go to the City, etc. And now her only identity is a rich man’s wife. Michael’s brother’s children are a lawyer and a financial professional. I find it quite telling of their true family goals and dynamic and quite pathetic.
Does anyone think Pippa was allowed to make her announcement this week so as it didn’t take away from the Pandemic Express? Or, was she pushed to announce this week to layer on the distractions from last week’s Pandemic Express bad press?