Camilla Jessen
Pippa and James leave Sky Sports reporter hanging.
Pippa Middleton made a surprise appearance at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after missing her sister Princess Kate’s annual Christmas carol service.
While attending the Formula 1 event with her husband, former racer and Williams F1 board member James Matthews, the couple found themselves approached on live TV by a Sky Sports reporter.
On-camera encounter
During his Dec. 5 “Qualifying Notebook” segment, Sky Sports’ Ted Kravitz walked through the paddock discussing race contenders Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen.
Spotting James and Pippa chatting nearby, he said on camera, “[That’s] James Matthews from the Williams team… I don’t know whether he has a view on Max, Lando or Oscar,” while also identifying others in the group.
Kravitz then asked, “Max, Lando or Oscar, anybody?”
James nodded at him, but both he and Pippa turned and walked away without responding.
“I can’t hear anything or any names here… okay, that’s fine,” Kravitz said as they continued on.
Reaction online
A clip of the moment later circulated on TikTok, where many viewers were stunned that the reporter didn’t appear to realize he was speaking to Pippa Middleton.
Comments also noted how abruptly the pair seemed to exit the conversation.
Pippa, 42, and James, who married in 2017 and share three children — Arthur, 6, Grace, 4, and Rose, 3 — attended the F1 race on the same day they were absent from Princess Kate’s carol service at Westminster Abbey.
Missing the Christmas service
While the couple stayed abroad, the rest of the Middleton family — Carole and Michael Middleton, along with James Middleton and his wife, Alizée Thevenet — were present for Kate’s fifth annual holiday event.
The Princess of Wales was also supported by Prince William; their children George, Charlotte and Louis; and several senior royals.
Pippa and Kate remain close, and earlier this year, Pippa and James announced a new project that closely aligns with Kate’s work in early childhood development.
According to the Daily Mail, the couple received permission to open a nursery on their 72-acre Bucklebury Farm estate, offering care for children aged nine months to five years.
Local officials said the new center would help ease a shortage of early-years places and provide “strong social benefits.”
Early childhood has been a major pillar of Princess Kate’s royal work, including her “Shaping Us” campaign launched in 2023.
Sources: PEOPLE; Sky Sports; Daily Mail.
