Pippa Middleton Biography

Born: 6 September 1983

Birthplace: Reading, Berkshire, England

Best known as: The sister of royal bride Kate Middleton

Name at birth: Philippa Charlotte Middleton

Born in 1983, Middleton is the second of the three children of Michael Middleton (born 1949), at the time a British Airways flight dispatcher, by his marriage in 1980 at Dorney to Carole Goldsmith (born 1955), a former flight attendant. Her father's family came from Leeds, in Yorkshire, and one of her great-grandmothers, called Olivia Lupton, belonged to a business family active in Leeds for generations. Through Olivia Lupton, her ancestors include The Rev. Thomas Davis, a Church of England hymn-writer. Carole Middleton's mother's family were labourers and miners from County Durham. The third child of the family is James William Middleton (born 1987), now a business man.

In the mid 1980s, when her two eldest children were at a pre-school and the family was living at Bradfield Southend, Middleton's mother set up 'Party Pieces', a company which began by making party bags and which now sells party supplies and decorations by mail order. By 1995 the firm, run by both parents, was so successful that it moved into a range of farm buildings at Ashampstead Common, and since then the Middleton parents are reported to have become millionaires.

Life.

Pippa Middleton Comes of Age

Ever since Pippa Middleton’s older sister, Kate, began dating Prince William, Pippa’s profile in the British media and around the world began to steadily rise. Painted by some as a voracious social climber with an insatiable appetite for attention, Pippa began surrounding herself with Britain’s elite. As a student at the University of Edinburgh, she moved in with George Percy, eldest son of the Duke of Northumberland, and Ted Innes-Ker, one of the Duke of Roxburghe's son, an aristocrat with strong ties to the royal family. Both Pippa and Kate’s unwavering social ambition earned.

84 Sex Appeal

Whether she likes it or not, Pippa Middleton is now the United Kingdom’s most sought after sex symbol. Thanks to the now infamous ivory bridesmaid dress that turned Pippa’s posterior into the most buzzed-about back end since Jennifer Lopez’s (a Facebook page devoted to her bum has over 160,000 followers), Middleton can expect to be hounded by Britain’s blood-thirsty paparazzi until she loses her youthful looks or settles down with one of her many suitors -- whichever comes first.

A Public Engagement

Life for the Middletons changes forever when Kate accepts William's proposal. "As you know, Catherine and Prince William have been going out for quite a number of years, which is great for us because we have got to know William very well," dad Michael tells reporters of his family's excitement over the royal engagement. "We wish them every happiness for the future."

Lady in Waiting

The royal family announces Pippa as Kate's maid of honor for her April nuptials. Pippa takes an active role in helping her big sis plan her royal wedding, and notably, planning her bachelorette party and reception, for which she reportedly requests disco balls.