Pippa Middleton makes first public appearance since Kate’s diagnosis

Pippa Middleton has made her first appearance since her sister the Princess of Wales‘ cancer diagnosis.

Looking effortlessly elegant in a stylish floral shirt and trousers co-ord from Claire Mischevani, Kate’s younger sibling, 40, attended day 12 of Wimbledon on Friday.

Pippa – who also carried a chic woven clutch – was all smiles as she grinned for the cameras, accessorising her look with a pair of shades to keep the sun out of her eyes.

It marks the first time the Princess of Wales’s sister has been in public since Kate, 42, shared news that she was receiving treatment.

Elsewhere, Pippa’s parents Carole and Michael Middleton appeared in good spirits as they enjoyed watching the action from the Royal Box last week.  

The couple also appeared very focused as they took in the second round match between Serbia’s Novak Djokovic and Britain’s Jacob Fearnley.

Both also laughed as they chatted with other attendees, including Sebastian Coe, the President of the International Association of Athletics Federations, who was seen sharing a giggle with an animated Carole. 

Dressed in all their finery, the beaming couple looked in good spirits as they arrived side-by-side for the prestigious event in London.

It follows their cheerful appearance at Royal Ascot last month, when they joined members of the Royal Family, including their son-in-law Prince William, at the lavish occasion.

The Middletons’ outings come after their daughter Kate – who has been receiving chemotherapy for an undisclosed form of cancer since February – made a spectacular return to public life during Trooping the Colour last month. 

The Princess of Wales had made a triumphant appearance, joining the Royal Family to celebrate the King’s official birthday.

Pippa has been by her sister Kate’s side both in public and in private throughout their lives, and now lives just a stone’s throw away from the Princess’s home in Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor Estate.

And now more than ever Kate will be relying on her sister’s support after a challenging year for her family.

Pippa was introduced to the world as Kate’s bridesmaid at her wedding to Prince William in 2011 as she carried her sister’s train up the steps to Westminster Abbey and even sparked romance rumours with her brother-in-law Prince Harry due to the giggles the pair shared on the day.

But after the royal wedding, Pippa has remained a rock for her sister, albeit while living a quieter life than the Princess of Wales – particularly since she moved to Berkshire with her husband James Matthews and their three children Arthur, Grace and Rose.

In September, just ahead of Pippa’s 40th birthday, it was reported she and James had swapped their £17 million Chelsea residence for a quieter property in the county of Berkshire where she and her siblings spent much of their childhood.

As children, Kate and Pippa, who are less than two years apart in age, bonded over their shared love of exercise and sport. In particular, the pair were known to enjoy hockey, tennis and athletics while both pupils at Marlborough College.

The sisters’ mother Carole previously revealed a glimpse into the girls’ childhoods in an interview with the Telegraph. 

Speaking in 2018, the owner of now defunct business Party Pieces revealed that, as s working mother, she instilled a strong work ethic in both Pippa and Kate, who were similarly focused on their studies at school.

When they weren’t at school, Carole said the sisters ‘did a lot of modelling’ for Party Pieces, revealing: ‘Catherine was on the cover of one of the catalogues, blowing out candles. Later on, she did some styling and set up the First Birthday side of the business. Pippa did the blog. I still value their ideas and opinions.’

The sisters remained close when they reached university age and both chose to study in Scotland – Pippa at Edinburgh and Kate at St Andrews (after a brief stint in Edinburgh herself).

When they had completed their studies, the siblings moved down to the Big Smoke where they shared an apartment in Chelsea together. 

During their early twenties while Kate worked for Jigsaw and Pippa moved into a PR and events career, the sisters frequented the London nightlife scene and were often pictured together visiting clubs beloved by high society in the noughties. 

Although Pippa has previously been described as the more ‘outgoing’ of the two sisters, she remained a support to Kate during the Princess’s engagement to Prince William.

The last time Pippa was spotted this year was in February – before Kate’s cancer diagnosis announcement – as she flaunted her toned figure in a Heidi Klein bikini during a day at the beach with her husband and children.

The mother-of-three wore a grey-and-white patterned bikin for a day out at Eden Rock Beach, which is owned by her husband James Matthews’ family, in St Barts.

The halter-neck bikini top originally retailed for £115 while the bottoms were £110. 

During the family getaway, the Princess of Wales‘ younger sister has worn over £2,000 worth of designer swimwear and accessories.