Princess Charlotte's surprise connection to aunt Pippa Middleton

Pippa Middleton who rose to global fame as the sister of Princess Kate, is not only a loving aunt, but a steady role model for a young Princess Charlotte, and the pair share a close bond. But dig a little deeper, and the two also share an additional bond with an unexpected conection.

Pippa's full name is Philippa Charlotte Middleton, and Charlotte's full name is Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana. Pippa, who married James Matthews in 2017 and has children of her own, was given the name Charlotte as part of her full moniker - a name that's carried a special resonance for the Middleton family.

Charlotte was born on May 2, 2015, in St Mary's Hospital, London and christened a couple of months later, on July 5, at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham.

Each one of Charlotte's names is a sweet tribute to one of her family relatives. Apart from her aunt Pippa, her first name is also a tribute to King Charles, as it is the female version.

Her middle name, Elizabeth, is a poignant tribute to her great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, while it's also the middle name of both Princess Kate and her mother, Carole Middleton. Charlotte's third name is a nod to her late grandmother, Princess Diana.

Royal expert Richard Kay previously said that William and Kate consciously decided not to give their daughter a first name that would constantly draw comparisons to royal women from the past.

Speaking on the Channel 5 documentary Secrets of the Royal Palaces, the expert said: "I think he very wisely decided not to give Charlotte his mother's name as her first name.

"Everything she did and said would have been compared with her. By giving Diana as the middle name, it means Diana is still there."

As an "unofficial" member of the Royal Family, Pippa Middleton is regularly seen supporting her sister and her royal duties, and has been part of key events like the royal weddings and family celebrations.

Pippa will be celebrating her 42nd birthday today and she was born on September 6, 1983 to Carole and Michael Middleton.
Pippa is the Middletons' second child and Carole and Michael are also parents to son, James Middleton.

She married her husband James Matthews in 2017 at St Mark's Church in Berkshire. They have since welcomed three children, a son Arthur and daughters Grace and Rose.