Pippa Middleton, sister of the Princess of Wales, has secured the right to restrict public access to a driveway running through her family’s Barton Court estate in Berkshire, following a dispute over whether the route constitutes a public right of way.

The pathway in question, which crosses the estate’s 145-acre grounds, had been used by local residents and walkers for decades, with supporters arguing it served as an important link to a public footpath that leads to the nearby village of Kintbury and its 12th-century church. In 2022, after purchasing Barton Court—a 32-room Georgian mansion valued at £15.5 million—Middleton’s husband, James Matthews, installed electric gates at the driveway entrance accompanied by signs declaring “No Trespassing” and “Private: No Public Access.” This move sparked opposition from villagers who sought formal recognition of the driveway as a public right of way.

A public inquiry was held in May to assess the status of the path. Matthews challenged the claim, contending that the driveway had not been freely used by the public for the statutory 20-year period required to establish such a right. He further argued that, given their high public profile, enhanced security measures were necessary to protect his family’s privacy and safety. Matthews also noted that there was no indication of public access to the driveway in the property’s conveyancing documents.

The inquiry heard statements from local residents and stakeholders on both sides. Lady Victoria Conran, widow of the estate’s previous owner Sir Terence Conran, stated she had rarely witnessed unauthorized use of the driveway during her 30 years living at Barton Court. Meanwhile, local councillor Tony Vickers expressed disappointment over the inquiry’s outcome, stating he found little merit in the arguments presented by the landowners' supporters.

Despite the Princess of Wales’s sister’s security concerns being deemed insufficient grounds for closure, inspector Ken Taylor ruled that the evidence did not demonstrate continuous and significant public use of the driveway to establish a public right of way. He described the “low levels of use” as inadequate to meet the legal threshold, emphasizing that the pathway’s desirability or convenience to the public could not influence the decision.

A spokeswoman for Middleton and Matthews expressed gratitude for the inquiry’s thorough review of the evidence. The decision effectively allows the couple to maintain the driveway’s private status, restricting public access through the estate. The ruling has put to rest a contentious dispute between the family and local residents who viewed the path as a vital part of the village’s network of footpaths.