Pippa at 13: The 'tough' sports star with a winning smile

By JO MACFARLANE

Gifted: Pippa Middleton was the star of the school's netball team

Fresh-faced and long-limbed,a young Pippa Middleton smiles proudly for the camera in the green kit of her school netball team.

The 13-year-old, already a star on the sports field, according to her former teachers at St Andrew's School in Berkshire – is shown sitting alongside her team-mates as they giggle and pose for the photograph.

Another previously unseen shot reveals the Duchess of Cambridge's sister in her smart school uniform, relaxing with friends in her housemaster's flat.


Sociable: Pippa, centre, and friends in their housemaster's flat


With her shoulder-length hair already tied in what looks like an early version of Kate's wedding demi-chignon, she looks like any other carefree schoolgirl .

The pictures were taken by Kevin Allford, who was housemaster to Pippa and Kate at the £13,000-a-year preparatory school in the Nineties.

Mr Allford, who now lives in Carmarthen, said: 'Pippa was like her sister and did everything at 100mph. They both loved sport, but Pippa was particularly talented.


SPORTY: Pippa, far right, with the school netball team


'She always smiled and was forever winning medals and trophies. The reason everyone thinks she's got a wonderful figure is because of the amount of time she's spent playing sport in her lifetime. With Pippa, it was hours and hours a day.'

Pippa, now 27, is two years younger than Kate, who had already left the school when these photo-graphs were taken.

The sisters were sent to the all-girls school as day pupils when they were eight. They stayed at St Andrew's until they were 13, ¬boarding for their final two years.



Runner: At 27, Pippa is still sporty and ran a triathlon last month


The girls were both known for their bright personalities and sporting talent but they did differ, according to Mr Allford.

'Pippa was tough, not like Catherine. She never seemed anything other than bright and ¬bubbly. If she fell down, she picked herself up and just got on with it.

'She knew exactly who she was and was a delight. There were never arguments with the other girls, never a piece of lost kit or grumbling.'

source: dailymail