Pippa Middleton and husband James Matthew embroiled in village row over use of footpath at £15m country estate
Locals claim to have used the path for over 50 years
www.independent.co.ukHere’s the latest on the Pippa Middleton footpath inquiry as of May 2026.
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Public inquiry dates: The hearing to decide whether Mill Lane near Barton Court should be added as a public right of way took place on May 13–14, 2026, in Kintbury. The process is open to the public and involves witnesses from both sides, with a government inspector overseeing the proceedings.
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Background: Local residents have long used the route as a footpath, while Pippa Middleton and James Matthews argue for restricting access due to private estate considerations and safety/privacy concerns. The inquiry will determine whether the path should be recognized on the Definitive Map of public rights of way.
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Current status: The inspector’s decision is expected several weeks after the hearings. Until then, the route’s legal status remains under review, with the ramblers seeking official recognition and the estate defending its position.
If you’d like, I can pull a few more recent sources or summarize the main arguments from both sides, and provide a timeline of key events.