When Catherine Elizabeth Middleton wed Prince William in April of 2011, a global
television audience topping one billion was transfixed by a real-life fairy tale transformation. Kate walked into Westminster Abbey a commoner and emerged a Royal Duchess. Ironically, on the day of the wedding, Kate wasn’t the only commoner to attract international attention. Her younger sister, Pippa, became an overnight sensation, clad in an ivory gown that highlighted her enviable figure. E! True Hollywood Story paints a portrait of these dynamic siblings who have captured the affection of millions around the globe. From their quaint childhood, through their times on the London social scene and finally to where they are today, THS reveals the remarkable story of two beauties who rose to celebrity status in the most magical way. THS: Kate and Pippa premieres on October 12 at 10:00 PM only on E!.
“When Kate was a little girl, she had these great big long legs. She was very good at high jump, she was good at running, she was good at hockey. She was actually good at everything … and so was Pippa,” journalist Ingrid Seward, Majesty Magazine, told E! The girls enjoyed a provincial upbringing but their family worked hard and, with the help of an inheritance, the girls were sent to top schools in England. One such school, for Kate, was St. Andrews. “I don’t know that I’ve ever seen someone look so amazing as a college freshman in a dorm, just hanging out,” Laura Warshauer, a college friend of Kate’s told E!. “She has this really calm, clear sense of who she [was].”
Apparently, it didn’t take long for the prince to notice her on campus either. “We were all at this party and there was a girl who was just flirting with Will and she was just being relentless. And it was obvious that Will wanted to get out of the situation. And all of a sudden, Kate just walks right up to Will, puts both of her arms around him and gives him the opportunity to say to the girl, ‘Sorry, I have a girlfriend.’ And then he turned to Kate and said ‘thank you.’ I remember thinking at the time that no one other than Kate could have pulled that off,” recalls Laura Warshauer.
As Will and Kate’s relationship became more and more public, the press had a field day with the future Queen. One day she was a fashion icon, the next she was dubbed “Waity Katie.” Still, through all of the ups and downs of dating the world’s most eligible bachelor, Kate had her sister by her side. “Kate and Pippa have always been incredibly close. You can see the warmth between them; they spend a lot of time together. When Kate and William broke up [temporarily] it was Pippa she went on the town with,” Claudia Joseph, author of The Making of a Princess, tells E!. While not future royalty – at least not yet – Pippa seems to be able to hold the spotlight all on her own. “For Pippa Middleton, the future looks golden. The world is her oyster…” adds Ingrid Seward.
Beyond the sensational headlines, camera flashes and designer gowns, one thing remains clear for the Middleton girls: their sisterly bond is unbreakable. The E! True Hollywood Story: Kate and Pippa provides an all-encompassing look at the women who are certain to play a major role in the pop cultural landscape for decades to come. E! THS Kate & Pippa premieres on October 12, 2011 at 10:00 PM on E!.
