Latest News About Pippa Middleton Footpath Inquiry

Here’s the latest on Pippa Middleton’s footpath inquiry:

• There is an ongoing public inquiry in Kintbury, Berkshire, over a footpath along Mill Lane at Barton Court. The dispute centers on whether the route should be added to the Definitive Map as a public right of way, with Ramblers UK advocating for recognition and Pippa Middleton and her husband James Matthews contesting while arguing privacy and estate concerns. The inquiry took place on May 13–14, 2026, and a government inspector was expected to issue a decision in the weeks following the hearing.[2][6][7]

• Local reporting indicates the session was open to the public and included witnesses from residents, the council, and the landowners, with the outcome hinging on long-standing public use spanning decades and whether that use meets the legal criteria for a right of way. The context also includes related planning applications for the estate and safety concerns raised by walkers about access routes.[3][4][6]

• Coverage from multiple outlets throughout 2026 confirms the central issues are access rights, route usability for villagers and walkers, and the potential impact on local travel to Kintbury. Some pieces note that privacy concerns are not deemed a controlling factor in the inquiry, which concentrates on historical use and legal rights.[1][7][3]

Illustration: The public inquiry atmosphere involved chairs, evidence sessions, and a crowdsourced sense of community interest, with dozens of local residents attending to observe the process.[6]

If you’d like, I can pull a concise timeline of key dates and summarize the inspector’s findings once a final decision is announced. Would you like a short timeline or a brief one-page summary?

Citations:

• Pippa Middleton footpath inquiry details and dates[6]
• Background on the footpath dispute and public hearing attendees[2][3]
• Privacy not considered decisive; focus on historical use for public right of way[7]