Pippa Middleton, best known as the sister of the Princess of Wales, has found herself at the center of a heated dispute in the idyllic Berkshire village of Kintbury. Neighbors have described the 40-year-old and her billionaire husband, James Matthews, as 'inconsiderate,' 'snooty,' and 'divas' after they erected electric gates across a lane that locals claim is a public right of way.
Background of the Dispute
The couple moved into Barton Court, a Grade II-listed mansion formerly owned by the late designer Sir Terence Conran, in 2022. The 145-acre estate includes a concrete track known as Mill Lane, which the Matthews family insists is part of their private driveway. However, residents argue that the lane has been used as a public footpath since the 1960s. By closing it off, they say they are forced to take a dangerous alternative route along a road frequented by HGVs with no pavement.
Local Reactions
Nick Edwards, a 65-year-old financial consultant, told The Daily Telegraph: 'I think arrogant is probably the word... they're not that important, they're not royalty.' Another frustrated local added: 'They're not even the proper Royal Family.' A representative for the Matthews family disputed the lane's status, stating it has only been 'reasonably alleged' to be a footpath and not formally designated by West Berkshire Council.
Pippa's Relationship with Vogue Williams
This controversy comes amid reports of a rift between Pippa and her sister-in-law, Vogue Williams. Vogue, who married Spencer Matthews in 2018, was famously excluded from Pippa and James's wedding in 2017 due to a strict 'no ring, no bring' policy. Although the pair were seen enjoying a holiday in St Barts in December 2018, they have not been pictured together since. An insider previously told the Daily Mail: 'She and Pippa are very different, as are James and Spencer. You can't help but wonder what conversations go on between Pippa and her family about Vogue.'
Pippa's Public Image
This is not the first time Pippa has faced criticism. In 2012, she instructed lawyers to act against a parody social media account mocking her party-planning book, Celebrate. Royal author Tina Brown also described Pippa's 'calculated social ascent' during her time at Edinburgh University, where she cultivated friendships with heirs to fortunes and stately homes. Despite her efforts to maintain a low-key image, the current lane dispute has reignited accusations of arrogance and entitlement.
Pippa now focuses on charity work as an ambassador for the British Heart Foundation, Disability Snowsport UK, and the Mary Hare School for deaf children. However, the row in Kintbury suggests that her private life continues to attract public scrutiny.
