Pippa Middleton, widely known as the sister of Princess Kate, has found herself at the centre of a heated neighbour dispute, but this time, the drama involves more than just her private life. Her £15 million home in the scenic village of Kintbury, Berkshire, has become a source of tension, drawing accusations of being “nouveau riche” from locals. And as the row over her property escalates, many are now questioning whether Pippa’s behaviour mirrors that of her sister-in-law, Vogue Williams, more than she would care to admit.
![A local said of James Matthews and Pippa: 'I think arrogant is probably [the word]... they're not that important, they're not royalty'](https://i.dailymail.com/1s/2026/04/22/12/108042577-15749223-image-a-3_1776856923229.jpg)
The trouble started when Pippa and her billionaire husband James Matthews decided to install electric gates along a section of Mill Lane, which they claimed was part of the long winding driveway to their grand estate. The residents, however, strongly disagreed, stating that the lane had always been a public footpath for decades and has been used regularly by locals for years.
The Matthews family’s decision to close the lane, forcing locals to take a more dangerous route along a busy road, sparked outrage. Many villagers voiced their frustration with Pippa, with one local describing her actions as “arrogant,” and suggesting that her high social standing had led her to believe she could do as she pleased. “They’re not royalty,” one villager remarked, implying that Pippa’s position as Kate’s sister was irrelevant in the eyes of the community.
While this might seem like a case of localised dispute, the tension between Pippa and her neighbours is only part of a larger narrative. Pippa has long been under the public eye, and her move into the Matthews family estate has only intensified scrutiny. Notably, Pippa’s relationship with her sister-in-law Vogue Williams has also raised eyebrows.
Despite their connections through their husbands, Pippa and Vogue’s relationship has been far from smooth sailing. In fact, after the Matthews brothers’ close bond was established, Vogue was notably left out of Pippa and James’s wedding in 2017, sparking speculation about tension between the two women. The refusal to invite Vogue was reportedly due to Pippa’s “no ring, no bring” policy. While the two women eventually enjoyed a trip to the Caribbean together in 2018, reports suggest the rift never truly healed, and they’ve not been seen socializing together publicly since.
Vogue’s life of glamour and celebrity has always been in contrast to Pippa’s quieter, more private existence. However, as Pippa’s life becomes more entwined with the Matthews family’s high society, there are growing concerns that she’s adopting some of the same traits for which Vogue has been criticized. Neighbours, who have described Pippa as “snooty” and “a diva,” argue that her newfound wealth has led to an attitude they consider “new money,” much like the one often attributed to Vogue Williams.
As this conflict rages on, Pippa’s critics have not hesitated to draw parallels between her and Vogue. One insider claimed, “Pippa and Vogue are worlds apart, but when you look at Pippa now, it’s hard not to see some similarities.” With accusations of “nouveau riche” surrounding Pippa, the Middleton family’s reputation for exclusivity is being questioned in a way it never has before.
While the family may remain close behind closed doors, the public rift between Pippa and her neighbours raises a broader question about the divide between the so-called “old money” elite and those who have newly joined the ranks of the wealthy. Despite these accusations, Pippa and James’s new life seems to be flourishing—albeit in the midst of this increasingly controversial dispute.
In the end, it seems that Pippa’s life of luxury may have come with a price—both in terms of her public image and her relationships with those around her. Whether she’ll take a page out of Vogue’s playbook and embrace the high-society lifestyle is yet to be seen, but for now, her neighbours aren’t holding back on their opinions.
