Pippa Middleton, sister of the Duchess of Cambridge, and her billionaire husband James Matthews are set to take on an expansive Scottish estate along with a title of nobility, recent reports suggest.
Having recently relocated from a £17 million Chelsea townhouse to a grand 30-room estate in Berkshire, Middleton and Matthews are now poised to add a Scottish retreat to their property portfolio. According to the Daily Mail, this move comes as Matthews stands to inherit his family's vast Glen Affric Estate.
The estate was bought by Matthews' father, David, in 2018. Nestled within 10,000 acres on a peninsula, with a loch for good measure, the property's centerpiece is the Affric Lodge. The idyllic estate lies in the village of Cannich, in the Highland region of Scotland, a stone's throw from Loch Ness.
Upon buying the property, David Matthews adopted the courtesy title Laird of Glen Affric and transformed the estate into a holiday rental. While the exact purchase price remains undisclosed, given the high rental prices - £11,800 for a three-night stay for up to eight guests or £17,800 for a group of 16 - it's clear the estate came with a hefty price tag.
The main residence boasts eight bedrooms, a whisky room, a formal dining room, and several living areas. The lodge, constructed between 1860 and 1872 using local pine, hardwoods, and Caledonian granite, showcases artwork by renowned 19th-century artist Sir Edwin Landseer. The estate has managed to preserve its traditional Victorian aspects, like fireplaces and turrets, while introducing appealing new features like the Stable Cottage.
The estate has played host to several high-profile visitors. Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth II's late grandmother, reportedly stayed at the lodge during the 19th century, while football star David Beckham shot a whiskey campaign there in 2014.
Described as one of Scotland's most picturesque locations by the estate's website, the Glen Affric Estate has also been enjoyed by Middleton's younger brother, James. He has previously shared his admiration for the location on social media, noting its beauty and tranquility.
When David Matthews passes, his son James will take up the title of Laird of Glen Affric, bestowing upon Pippa the courtesy title of Lady Glen Affric.
