The Princess of Wales's sister, Pippa Middleton, and her banker husband, James Matthews, have finally surrendered their struggling petting zoo, Bucklebury Farm. I can reveal that the couple have sold the £1.3 million Berkshire property, which they purchased in 2021 with the aim of transforming it into a thriving business and family attraction.
Instead, the 72-acre farm suffered six-figure losses annually, accumulating a debt of £807,543 by 2025, as I reported last year. In a desperate bid to address the financial shortfall, the couple submitted plans to build a nursery for 25 children on the expansive site. However, those plans faced criticism from the local highways authority, which argued that the nursery would cause congestion issues.
The couple even wrote a desperate plea to the council, asserting that the 'diversification' was 'essential to securing the farm's future, enabling it to remain open to the public and continue offering educational and recreational opportunities for the community.' Nevertheless, the application was refused.
Visitors also complained online about the steep ticket prices at the zoo, which they claimed had soared since 2021. One local described the venture as a 'snooty cash grab,' adding: 'This was a childhood favourite growing up in Berkshire, but since the Middleton takeover it has become a place of snobbery and middle-class inclusivity.'
A representative for the couple confirmed that they no longer have any ownership or involvement in the site.
