There are two things about Pippa Middleton that you probably know, even if you profess a complete disinterest in the British royal family.
Firstly, her figure, which was clad in a slinky Alexander McQueen gown at the wedding of her sister the Duchess of Cambridge, has created an unprecedented demand for bun-lifting cosmetic surgery.
Secondly, and crucially, at 27 she is considered by the British tabloids to be prime marriage material, and the subject of her future spouse is a source of constant speculation.
What everyone is really hoping, of course, is that a fairy-tale liaison will take place between Middleton and her brother-in-law Prince Harry. Wedding-watchers were convinced they could discern a chemistry between the two as they stood on the balcony, and what could be more convenient?
Sadly for the dream, Harry remains very single (though reportedly still in thrall to his on-off girlfriend Chelsea Davey), while Middleton and her long-term beau, the 30-year-old former cricket pro Alex Loudon, are apparently back together this summer, after a number of break-up rumours. That also puts paid to the theory that she was seeing her former Edinburgh University flatmate and boyfriend, the dashing aristocrat George Percy.
Will Pippa Middleton ever realise that her destiny lies with the young royal scion Harry? Can Wills' and Kate's example of a happy young couple in love bring a calming influence to bear on the wayward, feisty Pippa? Will she, in fact, be off the shelf before she hits the dreaded big three-oh?
To those of us who have long passed that milestone without managing to get hitched (and we're in good company, with beauties such as American actress Cameron Diaz, about to turn 39, part of this not-so-exclusive club), the continuing press coverage reads like the chattering of gossips in a Jane Austen novel - Mrs Bennet and Mrs Phillips but without the redeeming humour, manners or plotline.
It seems extraordinary that, in an age of apparent equality, the two main characteristics on which we still judge women are their bodies and their marital status. Should Middleton put even half an inch on those famous curves, it will be documented in minute detail for the viewing pleasure of the gossip-mag readers of the world. And should she decide that, actually, she wants nothing to do with the posh boys with whom she currently associates, it will be a decision to be picked over quite possibly for the rest of her life.
That is a fate that Queen Elizabeth's sister, the late Princess Margaret, had to suffer when the church and cabinet refused to allow her to marry the older, divorced, RAF officer Group Captain Peter Townsend. The beautiful princess's subsequent marriage to the fashionable society photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, Earl Snowdon, was punctuated with extramarital flings before it finally ended in divorce, and Margaret's decline and later relationships were constantly played out in the press.
Attitudes have moved on, somewhat, and Middleton has the advantage of being a relatively normal 27 year old - a "commoner" as she is often called - rather than answering to the protocol of the royal family. Yet she will still have to see her every move recorded in magazines, across the web and all over the TV.
Last week, the American channel TLC ran a documentary on the girl dubbed "Her Royal Hotness", called Crazy About Pippa, while the celebrity creator Simon Cowell admitted that, never having heard her sing, he would sign her up in a moment, for her star power alone.
In any case, few would argue that her dalliances are being explored to the exclusion of a glittering career. Certainly, she has a degree in English Literature from the University of Edinburgh, one of the UK's top institutions - and, like St Andrews, where Kate and Wills met, known for its high numbers of aristos and public-school types (her flatmates were Earl Percy and Lord Edward Innes-Ker), making it excellent husband-hunting ground. Her job, working with the family business Party Pieces for a reported two days a week, does not appear to tax her time so much that she can't pop into a King's Road salon for a blow-dry or attend the season's society events.
So is Pippa Middleton an Elizabeth Bennet or a Becky Sharp? Or will she instead delight the world and end up, Cinderella-like, with her prince? Someone better order a pair of LK Bennett's finest glass slippers before she turns 30.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Who are the Soroptimists?
The first Soroptimists club was founded in Oakland, California in 1921. The name comes from the Latin word soror which means sister, combined with optima, meaning the best.
The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.
Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Meydan race card
6.30pm: Baniyas (PA) Group 2 Dh125,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,200m
7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh170,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm: Rated Conditions (TB) Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh175,000 (D)1,200m
10pm: Handicap (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
SQUAD
Ali Khaseif, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Adel Al Hosani, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Bandar Al Ahbabi, Mohammed Barghash, Salem Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Hassan Al Mahrami, Walid Abbas, Mahmoud Khamis, Yousef Jaber, Saeed Ahmed, Majed Sorour, Majed Hassan, Ali Salmeen, Abdullah Ramadan, Khalil Al Hammadi, Fabio De Lima, Khalfan Mubarak, Tahnoun Al Zaabi, Ali Saleh, Caio Canedo, Muhammed Jumah, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue, Zayed Al Ameri
AndhaDhun
Director: Sriram Raghavan
Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan
Rating: 3.5/5
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
