Pippa Middleton has launched a belated defence of her £400k advance from publisher Penguin to write a book describing British celebrations after critics ridiculed her efforts as a succession of statements of the blindingly obvious.
Celebration: A Year of British Festivities for Family and Friends flopped upon release after critics claimed the party planning guide was stuffed with ‘glaringly obvious’ advice, prompting Middleton to claim that she ‘had to cover the basics’. .
Nuggets of wisdom contained in the title included using hay bales as outdoor seating, playing pass the parcel at children’s parties and observed that turkeys ‘because of their size… are perfect for feeding larger gatherings.’
Writing in the Spectator Magazine Middleton wrote: ““But in my defence. let me say this: Celebrate is meant to be a guide to party planning and, as such, it has to cover the basics. If I were to write a cookery book, for instance, I would be compelled to say that, to make an omelette, you have to break at least one egg."
Middleton revealed that her own family Christmases are, ironically, far from conventional with her father donning elaborate fancy dress costumes such as an inflatable sumo suit.