IN a touching tribute to her husband-to-be’s late brother who was killed 17 years ago scaling Everest, Pippa Middleton conquered all 14,691ft of the Matterhorn yesterday.
Pippa, younger sister to the Duchess of Cambridge, is pictured on the summit of the mountain, located in the Alps between Switzerland and Italy, just after daybreak on Saturday.
Pippa and brother James Middleton conquered the Matterhorn mountain peak yesterday in the AlpsCredit: Camera Press
She made the climb in honour of her fiance James Matthews’ brother Michael who died in 1999 climbing EverestCredit: Camera Press
The 32-year-old embarked on the adventure in memory of Michael Matthews, the younger brother of her fiance James Matthews, who lost his life when a Himalayan storm hit as he conquered Everest in 1999.
For that reason, her husband-to-be chose not come with her, though he shares her devotion to extreme sports, and the party planner’s brother, James Middleton, 29, joined her instead.
The pair hope to raise thousands of pounds for the charity set up in Michael’s name.
Just hours after her descent, Pippa spoke movingly about what had inspired her – and how she was longing to share her adventure with her fiance.
The brother and sister celebrated when they made it to the top at around 7.30amCredit: Camera Press
Pippa said the completing the climb for her late brother-in-law to be was “humbling”Credit: Camera Press
She told The Mail on Sunday: “It was humbling to have been able to climb one of the world’s most beautiful mountains and raise money for a charity created in memory of an extraordinary young man who lost his life on another peak.
“Although I have raised money in the past for the Michael Matthews Foundation, it has now become even more important to me and my family.
“Although neither I nor my brother ever met Michael, we both share his spirit and passion for the mountains. We made this climb knowing he would have been there nudging us on, and we are honoured to be supporting his memory.”
She added: “It would have been good if my fiance James had been here to share the experience, something I know he would have loved to have done. Mountain climbing, though, has disturbing memories and understandably James kept his feet firmly on the ground, while giving us his complete support.”
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The Duchess of Cambridge’s sister is known for her love of physical pursuits and has already conquered Mont Blanc, swum the Bosphorus in Istanbul and cycled across America.
The jagged pyramid of the Matterhorn, which stands above the Swiss ski resort of Zermatt, is the greatest challenge the royal’s sibling has ever faced.
Each year the mountain claims three or four lives and was one of the last in Europe to be conquered.
Michael became the youngest Briton to reach the summit in 1999.
But while he was still in the so-called “Death Zone” – everything from around 26,000ft above sea level where the air is too thin to sustain human life – he was torn from his path and his guide by a snowstorm.
Pippa is a fan of extreme sports. Pictured here with brother James Middleton who she climbed the Matterhorn withCredit: Splash News
In 2014 Pippa and fiance James Matthews completed the Race Across America bike race in AnnapolisCredit: EPA FILE
The pair were previously spotted in Norway at the Birkebeiner ski race, a cross-country race starting at Rena to the finish in LillehammerCredit: Splash News
The 32-year-old is often spotted around London going for a runCredit: PA
The foundation founded in his name gives children in some of the world’s remotest places an education. It operates in countries including Burma, Thailand, Nepal and Tanzania, building schools which double as health centres and community hubs.
Much of the fund raising has been done by James Matthews through sports events.
His surviving brother, the Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews, has said: “The loss was heartbreaking for James. With just a year and a half between them, he and Mike were the closest of friends.”
According to the Mail on Sunday, the Middletons travelled to Zermatt last week and acclimatised by climbing the 4,000m peak known as Breithorn on Thursday.
Pippa and James got engaged earlier this monthCredit: Getty Images – WireImage
James Matthews proposed to the Duchess’ sister, giving her an expensive engagement ringCredit: Peter Jordan
The next day, they left for the Hörnli Hut, the Matterhorn’s historic base camp where they had a dinner of veal and polenta, followed by a chocolate whipped dessert before an early night.
They woke at 3am yesterday, had breakfast at 3.30am and left at 3.50am on a path with a sheer drop on each side, lit only by torches strapped to their helmets. Roped to guides, they reached the Solvay Hut 4,000m up on the north-eastern ridge, to take on water as the sun rose.
Pippa told the paper: “We found ourselves scrambling up the rock using our hands as well as our feet, having to be deft at navigating around protruding rocks and learning how to trust our feet, our crampons, and above all, our guide.
The sister of the Duchess of Cambridge announced her engagement in JulyCredit: Fame Flynet
Later the same week she was spotted cycling in London, sporting the enormous ring on her engagement fingerCredit: KP Pictures
“The climb was in every way exhilarating, each step taking us a little further from our comfort zone, with lactic acid building in our thighs, a light head from the altitude and a dry mouth resulting from a combination of fear, adrenaline and dehydration.
“For all that, my brother and I have loved it. Not only do we have the same ethos but we look after each other.”
The adventurous pair posed for a picture – jumping for joy as they neared the peak at 7.30am.
They spent just 15 minutes at the top before making the treacherous descent – which requires climbers to abseil down sheer rock faces.