It’s incredibly funny to me that Pippa Middleton actually has the life which her sister wanted for herself. Pippa married James Matthews, someone terribly moderately wealthy (if not terribly rich) and James treats Pippa like a queen. Their first home together was a massive London townhouse, and now they’ve moved into their elite country home in Berkshire. It’s a massive estate and a historic (although modernized) mansion, the perfect place for Pippa to raise her three children (Grace, Rose and Arthur). Pippa also completed her masters last year, earning a degree in (gulp) early childhood physical education. Pippa IS the credible early years expert on top of everything else. As for this massive estate, according to Eden Confidential, Pippa and TMW James are redoing the grounds:

Pippa Middleton is determined to make a splash at the country home she and her husband, James Matthews, bought for £15 million. I can disclose that the Princess of Wales’s sister plans to dig up the massive walled garden where the previous owner lovingly cultivated fruit and vegetables.

In its place, Pippa, 39, and investment banker Matthews, 47, want to install a huge outdoor swimming pool. At 82 ft x 19 ft, it would be more than twice the size of a typical private pool and the same size as those at her two local leisure centres in the Royal County of Berkshire. Next to their pool, the lawn will be dug up and replaced with a tennis court.

While Catherine presides over manicured grass courts as patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, her sister intends to install one made of AstroTurf fake grass, ‘to enable safe playing conditions all year round’. The kitchen garden’s potting shed will be converted into changing rooms.

I disclosed in July that the couple, who married in 2017 and have three young children, had bought the 32-room Georgian mansion set in 150 acres. They need planning permission because the walled garden and main house are Grade II-listed and lie in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and near ancient woodland.

‘Ownership of [the house] has recently changed hands and the new owner is seeking to evolve and identify a new use for the expansive walled garden site,’ their planning agent said in documents submitted to the local council just before Christmas.

[From The Daily Mail]

I’m sure the aristocrats will find it terribly gauche that Pippa and James plan to dig up what sounds like a lovely kitchen garden. And all for an Olympic-sized pool? AND a tennis court? Granted, this estate is 150 acres, so they have the space for all of this. I also feel like Pippa will regret putting in the astroturf grass – that sh-t is so bad, most professional athletes refuse to play any sport on it. Surely a hard court might be better? Anyway, it’s just a reminder that Kate also did a full renovation of Anmer Hall, which included moving the tennis court, ripping out the gorgeous kitchen and putting up huge privacy trees and more. It was always unclear who paid for what with the Anmer Hall reno, but in Pippa’s case, her rich husband is financing this project. I bet she wants the pool done in time for summer.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images, Backgrid.

Pippa Matthews with husband James leads her parents Carole and Michael Middleton as they arrive for the ‘Together at Christmas’ Carol Service at Westminster Abbey in London. Picture date: Thursday December 15, 2022. PA Photo. The service will be broadcast on ITV1 on Christmas Eve as part of a Royal Carols: Together At Christmas programme, narrated by Catherine Zeta Jones and featuring an introduction by Kate and tributes to Queen Elizabeth II. See PA story ROYAL Carols. Photo credit should read: Kirsty O’,Image: 744843482, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Kirsty O’Connor / Avalon

Carole and Michael Middleton arriving for the ‘Together at Christmas’ Carol Service at Westminster Abbey in London. The service will be broadcast on ITV1 on Christmas Eve as part of a Royal Carols: Together At Christmas programme, narrated by Catherine Zeta Jones and featuring an introduction by Kate and tributes to Queen Elizabeth II.,Image: 744946541, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Kirsty O’Connor / Avalon

London, UNITED KINGDOM – Members of The British Royal Family attend “Together At Christmas” Community Carol Service at Westminster Abbey. Pictured: Carole Middleton, Michael Middleton and Pippa Middleton BACKGRID USA 8 DECEMBER 2021 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / UK: +44 208 344 2007 / *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*

London, UNITED KINGDOM – English socialite Pippa Middleton puts on a stylish display with husband James Matthews as they attend the Cirque du Soleil’s Luizia at the Royal Albert Hall Pictured: Pippa Middleton, James Matthews BACKGRID USA 13 JANUARY 2022 BYLINE MUST READ: Bob Grey / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / UK: +44 208 344 2007 / *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*

London, UNITED KINGDOM – Pippa Middleton puts on a stylish display with husband James Matthews as they attend the Cirque du Soleil’s Luizia at the Royal Albert Hall Pictured: Pippa Middleton, James Matthews BACKGRID USA 13 JANUARY 2022 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / UK: +44 208 344 2007 / *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*

London, UNITED KINGDOM – Members Of The Royal Family Attend ‘Together At Christmas’ Carol Service At Westminster Abbey in London. Pictured: Pippa Middleton BACKGRID USA 15 DECEMBER 2022 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / UK: +44 208 344 2007 / *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*

North America Rights Only – London, UK -20191204- Pippa Middleton and her husband James Matthews leaving St Luke’s church in Chelsea, hand in hand, having attended The Henry Van Straubenzee Memorial Fund’s Christmas Carol Service -PICTURED: Pippa Middleton and James Matthews -PHOTO by: INSTARimages.com Disclaimer: This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact INSTAR Images for licensing fee and rights information at or call +1 212 414 0207. This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. INSTAR Images reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded For images containing underage children: Be advised that some Countries may have restricted privacy laws against publishing images of underage children. Inform yourself! Underage children may need to be removed or have their face pixelated before publishing Featuring: Pippa Middleton and James Matthews Where: London, England, United Kingdom When: 04 Dec 2019 Credit: INSTARimages.com **North America Rights Only**

Together at Christmas Community Carol Service held at Westminster Abbey Featuring: Pippa Middleton Where: London, United Kingdom When: 08 Dec 2021 Credit: John Rainford/Cover Images **NOT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION IN THE UK**

Together at Christmas Community Carol Service held at Westminster Abbey Featuring: Pippa Middleton Where: London, United Kingdom When: 08 Dec 2021 Credit: John Rainford/Cover Images **NOT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION IN THE UK**