Pippa Middleton and her husband James Matthews are in the midst of a neighborhood dispute. The couple, who purchased a stunning property in Berkshire in 2022, have met resistance from their neighbors, resulting in an ongoing case at the local court that has brought attention to the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The home is Barton Court, a 32-room Georgian mansion located near Kintbury. The purchase followed the sale of their London home, prompting their move to Berkshire with their three kids, Arthur, 7, Grace, 5, and Rose, 3.
© WPA PoolThe Footpath at the Heart of the Fight
Shortly after moving in, Matthews and Middleton installed an electric gate and put up signs reading "Private: No Public Access" and "No Trespassing" across Mill Lane, a path that cuts through the estate grounds. Neighbors were furious, arguing that the lane was a vital pedestrian link connecting outlying areas to Kintbury village and its 12th-century St Mary's Church. They argued that the footpath offered a safer alternative to the narrow Station Road, which has no pavement and features blind turns and heavy traffic.
The late Sir Terence Conran previously owned the estate, with residents claiming he never restricted access to the lane. They also accused Middleton of Pippa invoking her connections to the royal family and her sister's status to justify blocking public access.
© WireImageThe Legal Battle
In 2024, Matthews filed a highway declaration notice asserting that Mill Lane had no public right of way. West Berkshire Ramblers, a group of about 35 walking enthusiasts, had petitioned the council to have the lane formally designated a public right of way, arguing that residents had been using it freely for over two decades. The council sided with the community. Matthews challenged that ruling, and the case went before a Planning Inspectorate inquiry.
The family's lawyer, Paul Wilmshurst, argued the lane was never used frequently enough to warrant a public designation. A spokesperson for the couple stated: "For as long as records exist, there has never been a footpath or public right of way on the land currently under discussion."
Matthews attended sessions of the inquiry and shared his perspective. "Before I moved in, I had only visited the home a couple of times. During those visits, I didn't see any member of the public using the lane. There was nothing in the conveyancing process that alerted me to the possibility of the lane being used for public access," he said, as reported by The Times. "This has implications for my family. Due to their high public profile, I need a higher level of security than would be required in other circumstances. To improve my family's safety, before we moved in, I installed the security fence at the entrance. No one from the public or the community approached us to talk about the issue or to discuss the problem."
© Getty Images"Over the past three years, ever since I purchased the home, I've only seen a handful of people on two or three occasions walking by the entrance. Every time, we've spoken, and I've told them it's not a public lane. Every time they acknowledged it and asked if they could proceed. Every time I've allowed them to, but only on that occasion."
What Comes Next
Ken Taylor, the Planning Inspectorate's appointed inspector, ruled that privacy and security concerns fall outside the scope of the inquiry, meaning the couple cannot use those arguments to justify closing the lane. The case now hinges on whether neighbors can prove consistent use of the route over the past 20 years, from 2002 to 2022. If they can, the lane will be designated a public right of way.
The footpath dispute hasn't been the only setback the couple has faced over the past year. Middleton and Matthews have also sold Bucklebury Farm Park, a 72-acre property they purchased in 2021 for approximately $1.6 million. The venture accumulated debts of nearly $1.1 million by 2025, and a bid to save the business by building an on-site nursery was rejected by the local council over traffic concerns. The farm had offered visitors numerous experiences, including a safari, seasonal activities, a café, and a farm shop.
Their renovation plans at Barton Court are also on hold. The couple had applied to build a stable and a greenhouse, but archaeologists flagged that the estate falls within an area of potential prehistoric archaeology, with evidence of Mesolithic and Palaeolithic remains along the River Kennet, which runs through the grounds between Kintbury and Aldermaston. They warned that any construction risked disturbing those remains.
