Which Middleton sister's wedding was the best?

Daily Mail

22 May, 2017 03:30 AM8 mins to read

Which Middleton sister had the better wedding? Pippa or Kate? Photos / Getty Images

She was a maid of honour for her sister Kate when she married six years ago, but at the weekend it was Pippa's turn to play the radiant bride.

The 33-year-old married billionaire hedge fund manager James Matthews, 41, at a church in Englefield, Berkshire in the UK.

Moments before she started her walk down the aisle the Duchess of Cambridge, 35, leaned down to help her arrange her stunning £40,000 ($75,000) Giles Deacon gown.

The touching moment drew a comparison with the starring role Pippa played as she lifted Kate's train and helped her up the steps of Westminster Abbey in 2011 to exchange vows with Prince William.

Kate fussed over Pippa's dress, reminiscent of her 2011 wedding. Photo / Getty Images

But this was not the only similarity between the two weddings.

From the couture gown to the celebrity filled guest list and lavish reception, the Daily Mail compares and contrasts Pippa's country wedding with her sister's royal extravaganza and asks whose big day was the most stylish?

THE DRESS

Pippa

Six years after appearing as her sister's bridesmaid at the Royal wedding, Pippa ensured her gown was equally memorable by plumping for a couture dress by Giles Deacon, whose long list of clientele include Cate Blanchett and Scarlett Johansson.

The cost of a bespoke couture dress has been estimated at anywhere up to an eye-watering £40,000 ($75,000). Pippa ensured her newly-toned arms were on full display today with a cap-sleeved frock and glittering tiara.

The stunning guipure lace number, with a nipped-in waist and low back, showed off the bride's flawless figure that she has been tirelessly honing at the gym, while the high neck gave her look a modern twist.

Kate

Kate opted for a long-sleeved lace number by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen on her big day - widely reported to have cost a staggering £250,000 ($470,000).

Both sisters opted for brilliant white rather than ivory, popular among brides, with dramatic, sweeping skirts to ensure all eyes were on them.

They also both topped off their wedding ensembles with a full tulle veil and tiara, but Kate's was significantly larger than her little sister's.

RECEPTIONS

Pippa

The glass marquee at the Middleton's Buckleberry Manor. Photo / Getty Images

The Middletons put on a lavish display by shipping in a £100,000 ($190,000) "porta-palace" from Belgium on the grounds of their Bucklebury Manor home this weekend.

The 140ft glass marquee was filled with pink cherry blossom trees and guests will reportedly be treated to a feast of caviar, champagne and haggis canapés.

Kate

Pippa's sumptuous celebrations pale in comparison to Kate and William's Buckingham Palace reception where guests included the Queen herself. The crowd was treated to a live performance by pop princess Ellie Goulding.

THE RINGS

Pippa

James Matthews proposed atop a windswept mountain in the Lake District with a rock said to have set him back more than £200,000 ($370,000).

Commenting on the dazzler, David Allen, Creative Director of 77 Diamonds, told the Daily Mail: "Pippa is not one to be outdone by her sister, we know that after 'that' dress she wore at the Royal Wedding in 2011."

"Her centre diamond appears to be a 4 carat asscher cut diamond. Given the nature of these step cut stones, the quality is paramount so the stone requires the highest of clarity gradings."

"A flawless asscher diamond set in an octagonal halo ring such as this would fetch upwards of £200,000."

Kate

The sapphire sparkler William used to propose with Kate was not only valued at an eye-watering £300,000 ($560,000), it has sentimental value too.

It is the same piece of jewellery that Lady Diana Spencer chose for her engagement to Prince Charles in 1981 from a selection presented to her by the then Crown jewellers, Garrard of Mayfair.

THE IN-LAWS

Pippa

Pippa's mother-in-law is Jane Matthews, 69, who grew up in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, where she enjoyed a privileged childhood. Jane was voted carnival queen by fellow undergraduates at South Africa's prestigious Rhodes University.

Her father-in-law is Dave Matthews, who owns the 10,000-acre Glen Affric Estate in the Scottish Highlands, which opened in 2012 as a luxury hunting lodge. David and Jane also run the luxurious Eden Rock Hotel on the beautiful island of St Barth's.

Kate

Meanwhile, Kate's in-laws are the royal couple Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. The pair married in 2005.

GROOM - THE BILLIONAIRE VS THE ROYAL

Pippa

Pippa married James Matthews, 41, a hedge fund boss whose estimated worth is £2billion. He was educated at Uppingham School in Rutland and won the British Formula Renault Championship in 1994 for Manor Motorsport.

He is the chief executive of Eden Rock Capital Management Group, based in London, which has made him a significant portion of his fortune.

He lives with Pippa in his six-bedroom £17 million ($32 million) home in Chelsea, which he purchased in 2014. James is also the heir to the Scottish title of Laird of Glen Affric.

Kate

Meanwhile, Kate married the heir to the throne Prince William. William, 34, the oldest son of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana.

He is second in line to succeed his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, after his father. He has served as an RAF Search and Rescue Force since early 2009.

BRIDESMAIDS AND PAGE BOYS

Pippa

Pippa's bridesmaids and page boys were an adorable bunch. Countess Philippa Hoyos, Lily French, Avia Horner and Princess Charlotte carried baskets of flowers behind the bride.

Casimir Tatos, Edward Sebire, William Ward and Prince George served as page boys.

Kate served as an unofficial maid of honour, helping her sister with her dress and keeping the children in line.

Kate

At Kate's wedding Pippa famously served as maid of honour in a figure-hugging dress.

Kate had four other bridesmaids and two page boys. Lady Louise Windsor, the seven-year-old daughter of the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Margarita Armstrong-Jones, the eight-year-old daughter of the Viscount and Viscountess Linley, Grace van Cutsem, three, Hugh van Cutsem, Eliza Lopes, the three-year-old granddaughter of the Duchess of Cornwall, William Lowther-Pinkerton, the son of William's private secretary and Tom Pettifer, the son of Princes William and Harry's former nanny.

THE VENUE

Pippa

St Mark's Church, Berkshire. Photo / Getty Images

Pippa tied the knot at St Mark's Church in Englefield, Berkshire, with the reception taking place back at the Middletons' £5million family home in Bucklebury a few miles away.

The couple hired a huge £100,000 ($190,000) glass marquee, shipped from Belgium and set up in the Middletons' garden, to host their wedding breakfast and evening festivities.

The 12th-century St Mark's is six miles from Bucklebury where Pippa grew up. It is on a private estate owned by Tory MP Richard Benyon.

Kate

Westminster Abbey, London. Photo / Getty Images

Kate and William chose to marry at London's Westminster Abbey, which has been the venue for most royal weddings in the last century.

They followed in the footsteps of Queen Elizabeth II to the Duke of Edinburgh in 1947, Princess Anne (later the Princess Royal) to Mark Phillips in 1973, and the Duke of York to Sarah Ferguson in 1986.

The abbey, which has a seating capacity of 2000, features a romantic avenue of 20-foot tall trees arranged on either side of the main aisle.

After the ceremony, the couple made the traditional appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace - with one million people lining the roads on the route the Palace.

The occasion featured many ceremonial aspects, including use of the state carriages and the Foot Guards and Household Cavalry.

Over 5,000 street parties were held throughout Britain on the day, which was a public holiday in the UK.

THE CARS

Pippa

The 1961-1975 Jaguar E-Type. Photo / Getty Images

James and Pippa drove in a green Jaguar E-Type from the Englefield Estate to the Middleton mansion.

The British sports car was manufactured between 1961 and 1975. Its combination of beauty and high performance made it an icon around the world.

Kate

The 1969 Aston Martin DB6. Photo / Getty Images

Prince William drove his new bride out of the gates at Buckingham Palace in his father's precious Aston Martin Volante.

The 1969 Aston Martin DB6 was given to Charles by the Queen as a 21st birthday present and was recently converted to run on 100 per cent bioethanol fuel distilled from surplus British wine as part of efforts to cut his carbon footprint.

THE KISS

Pippa

Pippa held hands with her new husband as they kissed moments after they said "I do" just outside the church. They were joined by their adorable pageboys and bridesmaids.

Kate

Prince William and Kate Middleton shared a brief kiss in front of screaming crowds on the Buckingham Palace balcony after the royal wedding watched by millions.

CELEBRITY GUESTS

Pippa

Pippa's wedding was attended by actress and TV presenter Donna Air with her boyfriend, Pippa's brother James, while tennis superstar Roger Federer topped the guestlist with his wife Mirka.

Former Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews, who is the groom's brother, was in attendance - but his Irish model girlfriend Vogue Williams was noticeably absent.
Similarly, Prince Harry turned up without his Suits actress girlfriend Meghan Markle.

Gary Goldsmith, Pippa's uncle made an appearance with his daughter Tallulah, while Kate's son Prince George and Princess Charlotte stole the show as pageboy and flower girl.

Kate

Kate's wedding was attended by the likes of David and Victoria Beckham, David and Samantha Cameron and Sir Elton John and David Furnish.

Singer Joss Stone, Zara Phillips, the late socialite Tara Palmer-Tompkinson and Madona's ex-husband Guy Ritchie also made it to the historic event.

Royal guests included Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, Prince Pavlos And Marie Chantel of Greece, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Princess Diana's brother Earl Spencer among others.

Prince Harry attended with his then-girlfriend, South African beauty Chelsy Davy.