She may be the younger sister of the future Queen of England, but Pippa Middleton is as down-to-earth as the rest of us when it comes to using public transport.
HELLO! can reveal that Pippa, 42, recently undertook a very incognito train journey from London to Newbury with her eldest son, Arthur, seven.
The mother-of-three was travelling without her husband, James Matthews, appearing every inch the "normal" and relatable mum as they snacked on sushi and doughnuts.
The duo were travelling in standard class, not first, and did not appear to have a seat reservation.
As they approached their destination, her son refused to stop watching his iPad, but Pippa was firm with him and threatened to limit his future access, marking a relatable parenting moment.
A source told HELLO!: "Pippa was just a very normal mum. She was very attentive to her son, who was engrossed in his iPad, and went totally under the radar in the train carriage. She carried her own luggage and was really polite and friendly, you’d never guess she was related to royalty."
Following in her sister's footsteps
It seems Pippa has taken inspiration from her sister, Kate, who is also no stranger to travelling via public transport. In January last year, William and Kate shocked commuters as they travelled by train to an engagement in Pontypridd, in Wales.
© Getty ImagesThey were seen walking along the platform, with the Princess waving to onlookers, in a video shared to the couple's Instagram account. They have in the past travelled by royal train, which is being decommissioned in 2027 as part of the King's cost-cutting endeavours, it was revealed last year.
Royals are only permitted to use the train by invitation from the monarch and, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, it was typically only used by senior royals. Kate and William often travel by car in a royal motorcade, or else via royal helicopter or private jet.
Pippa's quiet luxury home life
Pippa is mother to Arthur, seven, Grace, four, and Rose, three. The Princess of Wales's sister owns Bucklebury Farm in Berkshire with her husband, hedge fund manager James.
© Samir HusseinThey purchased the £1.5 million estate, which has 72 acres of land and includes a deer park and children's play areas, in 2020, relocating from their Georgian townhouse in London.
Last year, it was revealed that the couple had been given the green light to set up a nursery on the estate, changing the use of an existing log cabin.
© Samir Hussein/WireImageWhile Pippa was a regular on the social scene with her sister, Kate, during their twenties, nowadays she keeps a low profile in Berkshire. Residing close to her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, at Bucklebury Manor, and younger brother, James Middleton, and his wife, Alizee, Pippa earned her postgraduate master's degree in Physical Education, Sport and Physical Literacy from University of Wales Trinity Saint David in 2022.
She also released a book, Celebrate, with tips for entertaining and party planning in 2012, and penned a column for Waitrose Kitchen magazine. Famously, she was the maid of honour at Prince William and Kate's wedding in 2011.
