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7 things you need to know about Pippa’s fiance

Our favourite: his brother was once The Bachelor
Getty

In case you’ve been living under a rock this week, Pippa Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge’s younger sister, is engaged. Some would say that Pippa herself is the one living under a rock, almost weighed down by the giant sparkler on her finger, worth an estimated $350,000. But while the lady once dubbed “her royal hotness” and her Asscher-cut diamond have stolen the spotlight, just who is her beau, James Matthews? Here’s the 411.

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1. He’s pretty posh

And not just because of his penchant for preppy polo shirts. The It-Brit went to Uppingham, an uber-exclusive boarding school in the English countryside (think Eton minus Harry and Wills).

Disclaimer: we can’t guarantee this is James’s exact house, but you get the picture… (Credit: Getty)

2. He ain’t short of moolah

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Although the Londoner, now 40, reportedly never went to university, he’s laughing all the way to the bank – quite literally, now an eminent hedge fund manager. Exhibit A: his $30 million digs (a five-storey townhouse) in swanky Chelsea. Oh, and he has a private plane.

(Credit: Getty)

3. His little brother is a major UK reality star

If you haven’t seen Made In Chelsea, you probably should – well if you like the sound of watching privileged 20-something Sloaneys (the west-London social set) doing not that much (think The Hills on the other side of the Atlantic: somehow mind-numbing and riveting at the same time).

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The show’s resident bad boy? One Spencer Matthews, serial womaniser and younger brother of James.* His stint on the show led to more reality gold: first as a smarmy British Bachelor, and earlier this year on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! He was thrown off the show after just three days for taking steroids.

*Sources have been quick to assert that James is the antithesis of his brother.

4. His family owns a celeb hotspot in the Caribbean

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James’s parents purchased Eden Rock, a five-star resort in St Barths, in the nineties. A-list guests include Leonardo DiCaprio, Jessica Alba, Bono, and um, Carole Middleton. Could this be the setting for a lavish hens’ weekend?

Getty (Credit: On a charity bike ride with Pippa and her brother, (the other) James.)

5. He’s a charitable gent

After his middle brother Michael tragically died while climbing Mount Everest, James and his family set up a charity in his name. Now, he regularly competes in marathons – sometimes with Pippa – to raise money for the foundation, which helps provide education for children living in poverty across the globe.

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RELATEDBrother of Pippa Middleton’s fiance was lost on Everest

6. He’s kind of a jock

Well, maybe not in the American teen movie sense, but James is an outdoorsy chap involved in all kinds of sporting pursuits: skiing, tennis, and even race car driving in his youth. Just Pippa’s match.

(Credit: Getty)
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7. He’s just a normal dude

Sure, he might be a multi-millionaire who’s half a degree away from marrying into the royal family. But, he’s also just a normal dude. Here’s how we know. The guy takes his dog for a run around sartorial stomping ground Chelsea, slogan t-shirt on top, flimsy Nike shorts on bottom, and backpack strapped – not once, but twice – to his body. He may have just won our hearts.

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