Almost exactly a year after her sister Kate Middleton‘s royal wedding, Pippa Middleton is stealing the scene again — but it’s nothing as light-hearted as flirty chats with Prince Harry or a derriere-enhancing bridesmaids’ dress.
After partying at a raucous, raunchy bash in Paris until 5 a.m., the socialite, 28, took a spin with three pals in a convertible on Saturday when photographers snapped the foursome — and, in a bizarre turn of events, the driver of the car took out what appeared to be a semi-automatic pistol and aimed it at the photographer. Sitting in the passenger seat, Middleton laughed.
Nobody’s laughing now. As revealed in the new Us Weekly, Middleton will be questioned by French authorities about the gun-waving incident and faces nearly $6000 in fines and even jail time if convicted.
The royal in-laws are not pleased. “This is embarrassing for them,” a royal source says. Including big sister Duchess Kate, 30. Her sibling’s surprising photo “has put Kate in a very difficult position,” the source adds.
The mystery man pointing the gun in question, meanwhile, has finally been identified: He’s Romain Rabillard, a 36-year-old French attorney, who ironically represents German firearms manufacturer Heckler & Koch. The single Rabillard parties with a crowd of chic Parisians, including wealthy clothing designer Viscount Arthur de Soultrait — Middleton’s pal, whose wild 30th birthday bash she attended Friday evening.
For much more on Pippa’s shocking new scandal — how the royals and the Middleton family is reacting and how Pippa is dealing with the crisis — pick up the new Us Weekly, on stands Friday.