Kate's 'wisteria sister' Pippa reaches top of the social tree
She may have been overshadowed in recent years by big sister Kate’s romance with our future King but now Pippa Middleton has a crown of her own.
The 23-year-old party planner has beaten supermodels, actors and aristocrats to be named Britain’s most eligible person in the society magazine Tatler.
The younger half of the duo dubbed ‘the wisteria sisters’ – highly decorative, terribly fragrant and with a ferocious ability to climb – landed the coveted top spot in Tatler’s annual list of the country’s most desirable singletons, even though her family have often been derided for being too middle-class.
Society Queen: Party planner Pippa Middleton (right) is No 1 in Tatler's Little Black Book, while model Alice Dellal (left) is second on the list
Like Kate, Pippa has faced snobbish comments over the years, primarily about her mother’s previous experience as an air stewardess.
But her status as a possible future Royal in-law, combined with her constant presence on the London social scene since breaking up with banking heir JJ Jardine Patterson last year, appears to have finally won over her critics – though her Tatler profile does conclude with the line: ‘Goes to a lot of parties, but mainly as the caterer.’
Tatler Top Ten Society Singletons
The magazine’s annual publication of its Little Black Book causes a stir in stately homes across the land, with the rich and upwardly mobile all anxious to see whether they or their friends have been included – or left out.
The names deemed worthy to feature are regarded as the 200 ‘coolest kids in town’ because of their society connections, love of parties and their physical and financial attributes.
Second on this year’s list is Alice Dellal, described as ‘the model of the moment’. The 20-year-old granddaughter of ‘Black’ Jack Dellal, who amassed an £800million property empire, divides her time between Rio de Janeiro and South London squats, and has a penchant for ripped clothing.
She represents the Pussy Glamore underwear range, models for Mango jeans and has taken Kate Moss’s job at Agent Provocateur. Comparisons with the supermodel also arose last month when she was pictured apparently preparing a wrap of drugs at a nightclub.
Richard Dennen, who compiled the Little Black Book, said: ‘Now Kate is off the market everyone wants a slice of the little sister. And who wouldn’t want to be the future King’s brother-in-law, if only for the use of the Buckingham Palace swimming pool? She’s super-hot, cool and out and about around town.
‘Alice Dellal is almost the antithesis of someone like Pippa. She’s the model of the moment and has that rock’n’roll edge. Half the Kings Road is trying to ape how she dresses.’
This year, the Black Book has combined its lists for girls and boys for the first time. The highest-ranked male is Ben Barnes, the London-born actor who stars in the Narnia movies, closely followed by David Cameron’s brother-in-law, Robert Sheffield. The top ten also includes Bob Geldof’s daughter Pixie, Princess Eugenie and singer James Blunt.
But recognition by Tatler can be fleeting. Last year’s No1, Princess Diana’s niece, Lady Kitty Spencer, hasn’t made the cut this year. High fliers from 2007, model Lily Cole, actress Sienna Miller and Lady Gabriella Windsor are also out.
* Tatler’s December issue is on sale from Thursday.
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