Pippa Middleton And Duke Of Northumberland Officially Dating

Pippa Middleton had the press suspecting as much last year when, following her split with ALEX LOUDEN, she went straight up to Alnwick in the northern UK county of Northumberland to spend a weekend with old Edinburgh University chum GEORGE PERCY. Now it seems that it's official; the sister of new Duchess of Cambridgeshire Kate is dating the heir to the Duke Of Northumberland's land and money - thought to be some £315 million.

Apparently the pair got together seriously on New Year's Eve at a party organised by the Middletons. "Pippa sat herself next to George at supper and made sure she was hanging off his arm all night. And then she made her move," said a source to UK newspaper The Sun. "It was like a shark circling its bait. Some people think she has always set out to do this." The opinionated source continued "Pippa has always been close to him. There is no doubt this was a huge issue for her ex-boyfriend Alex. After they parted the first thing she did was spend a weekend on George's estate in Northumberland. But now they are out in the open."

If she moves up to Alnwick to be with Pecy, Middleton'll find herself in some very fine surroundings indeed. The area of land Percy is set to inherit one day covers some 100,000 acres and 100 tenanted farms while the castle itself too is somewhat of a salubrious location, with parts of the 'Harry Potter' films being shot there.