Pipper Middleton and the Earl of Hogwarts

Everyone seems to adore Pipper Middleton, so much so that when a British newspaper announced that she was in a serious relationship with one of Britain’s richest men, George Percy, 30 newspapers and television stations around the world pounced on the story and ran with it.





Heir to the ancient Duchy of Northumberland, 27 year old Earl Percy will inherit Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, better known as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films. The family’s wealth is conservatively put at around 300 million pounds and includes more than 100,000 acres of land as well as an estate in Surrey and Syon Park in London. His parents, Ralph, the 12th Duke of Northumberland, and mother Jane have withheld much of his inheritance to stop him going off the rails.





But a Royal source said yesterday that the claims of a serious love match are unfounded. They met at Edinburgh University and have been close friends ever since and because George has been helping Pipper get over her love affair with banker Alex Loudon, people have jumped to the wrong conclusion.


But the rumour persists. An unnamed source said the Earl has always been in love with Pipper and insiders say that their relationship blossomed at a New Year's Eve party hosted by the Middletons. Pippa sat next to Earl Percy at supper and was at his side throughout the evening.


The Middleton family ancestry is interesting, lawyers on Mr Middleton’s side and coal miners and labourers on Mrs Middleton’s. A cynic might suggest that the robust working class genes from mother are responsible for this ordinary middle-class family being able to produce such clever, good-looking children. History has proved that royal progeny sometimes leaves a lot to be desired and an injection good working class genes is undoubtedly beneficial.





You might remember Kate’s younger brother James who made such an impressive speech for someone so young at his sister’s royal wedding. Like his parents, he is also making money hand over fist with his Cake Kit Company and has launched three more companies – Nice Cakes, Nice Wine and Nice Group London. All three have been registered to the family’s Berkshire trading headquarters, home of the successful Party Pieces firm which has made the Middletons a fortune. A friend of James said “There is no doubt about it, James would like to be the next Richard Branson.”


When Pipper’s long term relationship with banker Alex Loudon ended last year, it was rumoured that his parents thought Pipper’s pedigree was ‘not good enough’ for their son and one wonders if the Duke of Hogwarts and his wife might feel the same way. So could the old ‘class system’ still be alive and well in the UK? Oh course, it never went away.