Red rose Pippa dazzles at friend's wedding to Richard Attenborough's actor grandson who survived the 2004 tsunami

By Lara Gould


A year ago she became the talking point of her sister’s wedding to Prince William.

Now it seems Pippa Middleton is making a habit of upstaging brides on their big day.

Yesterday she attended the Scottish wedding of close friend Camilla Hook to Indian Ocean tsunami survivor Sam Holland, the actor grandson of Oscar-winning film director Lord Attenborough.

The bride, who had taken wedding planning advice from party planner Pippa, arrived in an elegant off-the-shoulder floor-length lace dress with full satin skirt and carrying a posy of cream roses, at the parish church in the village of Aberlady – 15 miles from Edinburgh.

But as she made her way into the church all eyes – and indeed cameras – were on the Duchess of Cambridge’s younger sister.

She turned heads in a low-cut raspberry-coloured silk jersey ‘Forever’ dress by Issa – her sister Kate wore a midnight-blue version to announce her engagement at Clarence House in November 2010.

The body-skimming dress, which showcased single Pippa’s enviable figure and world-famous derriere, was accessorised with a matching fascinator with net veil and black clutch bag and set off with a pair of black heels.

Inside the church Miss Middleton, who arrived with a female friend and one of the young bridesmaids, gave a reading reciting the lyrics from singer Bob Dylan’s Forever Young as part of the service, which included three hymns and a song from the church choir.

Other guests included Freddie Mellor, the son of former Conservative Cabinet Minister David Mellor. Freddie, a friend of the groom since their time at Charterhouse public school in Surrey, was one of five best men.


Close friends: Pippa Middleton and bride Camilla Hook met on an exclusive cookery course in 2002


Big day: Guests gather outside the church where Miss Middleton recited Bob Dylan lyrics as a tribute to her friend of ten years

Pippa makes her way through the churchyard (left) and leads guests inside for the service (right)

After the service Miss Middleton, 28, and other guests gathered to throw petals over the newlyweds to the strains of a lone piper, before being driven off in an Audi as others were ferried to the reception at the bride’s family home by coach. Miss Middleton and Miss Hook, also 28, have been friends since 2002 when they met on an exclusive £3,600- a-month cookery course in Frome, Somerset, after leaving school.

Miss Hook, who lives in Clapham, South London, met her fiance when they were students at Durham University.

Their wedding follows tragedy for Mr Holland, 27, who lost members from three generations of his family in the tsunami in 2004. He and his father, shipbroker Michael Holland, survived the Boxing Day disaster after travelling inland from their holiday home in Thailand to play golf.

Mr Holland’s mother Jane, 49 – Lord Attenborough’s eldest daughter – was killed, as were his sister Lucy, 15, and his paternal grandmother, also called Jane, 81. His second sister, Alice, now 24, was seriously injured but survived and was there to support her brother on his big day yesterday, giving a reading during the 45-minute service.

Mr Holland has spoken of how his future wife helped him cope with the loss, saying: ‘Camilla has been a great source of comfort to me over the years. We’re very happy.’


Showered with petals: Newlyweds Camilla Hook and Sam Holland leave the church before making their way to the reception at the nearby Hook family home


And the boys: Sam Holland (centre) with his ushers. The groom is the grandson of Lord Attenborough and a survivor of the 2004 tsunami, in which members of his family died


Groom's grandfather: Oscar-winning director Lord Attenborough, who lost his eldest daughter and granddaughter - Mr Holland's mother and sister - in the Indian Ocean disaster


Making an entrance: (above and below) Guests arrive at Aberlady Parish Church




source:dailymail