Royal Watch News

Pippa Middleton's host apologises over gun incident

Apr 19, 2012, 12:01 GMT

Pippa Middleton

Pippa Middleton's French host 'regrets enormously' that his friend aimed a toy gun at photographers.

The British beauty - who is the sister of Duchess Catherine -has been the subject of much criticism after someone in a car she was travelling in in Paris brandished the replica firearm and now her pal Arthur de Soultrait has spoken out about the incident. Apologising for the scandal, the aristocrat - who was hosting a fancy dress party which Pippa had travelled to France to attend - also slammed pursuing photographers for not leaving his friend alone.

He explained in a statement: 'I was in a car with Philippa Middleton, and we were being followed by paparazzi.

'She had been subject to constant and dangerous harassment by paparazzi throughout her time in Paris. The car was being driven by a friend of mine, whom Pippa had only met a few hours before. As a joke, my friend brandished a toy pistol in their direction.

'I regret enormously that this incident happened, and especially that Pippa has been subject to the subsequent attention through no fault of her own. I have apologised to her for this.'

Arthur insists Pippa had 'no idea' that his friend was going to brandish the toy gun and said she didn't find the incident amusing.

He added: 'Obviously Philippa had no idea that he was going to do that and told him to stop immediately. She did not find it funny.'