Princess Catherine's Sister Sparks Debate for Vacationing with Family While Her Sister Is Ill – Photos

Pippa Middleton, the sister of Princess Catherine, recently captured attention during a family vacation. Followers criticized Pippa for going on vacation at this time.

At 40, Pippa Middleton displayed her fit physique on Eden Rock Beach, a property owned by her husband's family, in St. Barts. The vacation comes weeks after her sister, Princess Catherine, underwent surgery and began her recovery.

Dressed in a white bikini adorned with gold, she spent quality time with her husband, James Matthews, and their children, Arthur, five, Grace, two, and Rose, one. The beach outing showed Pippa running after her daughters and enjoying the sea, with minimal accessories.

Pippa and James, who have been married since May 2017, exemplified the role of doting parents. The family's property is a favored spot for celebrities like Elton John and Leonardo DiCaprio. This luxurious getaway contrasts with the more somber news of the Princess of Wales' recent abdominal surgery, from which she is currently recuperating.

Some followers were shocked to see Pippa enjoying herself on the beach when her sister was recovering from a serious surgery. One follower commented, "How can you smile! [sic]" Another wished misfortune on Pippa and dubbed her an "irresponsible sister." However, there were also those who found it "reassuring" to see her on vacation, surmising that it meant Princess Catherine was not too sick.

One fan said if Pippa was concerned about her sister, she would not be on vacation, which meant people should stop asking where Princess Catherine was. Princess Catherine's surgery, described as "successful" by media reports, made her spend almost two weeks at the London Clinic.

Despite the gravity of her condition, which Kensington Palace has stated is not cancer-related, she was discharged and is currently convalescing at Adelaide Cottage with her family, aiming for a return to public duties post-Easter.

The timing of Pippa's Caribbean holiday has sparked discussions, juxtaposing the Middleton family's varied engagements during the Princess's recovery. James Middleton, Pippa and Catherine's brother, also recently shared moments from his own family adventure after his sister's surgery.

As previously reported January 29:

Just hours ago, Kensington Palace shared an update on Princess Catherine's recovery journey. The message posted to the official Instagram account of the Prince and Princess of Wales reveals that Princess Catherine has returned to her home.

She is back at Windsor, where she continues to recover. From the statement, the public has been told that Princess Catherine's recovery is progressing well.

Another part of the announcement read, "The Prince and Princess wish to say a huge thank you to the entire team at The London Clinic, especially the dedicated nursing staff, for the care they have provided."

At the end of the statement, the Royal family expressed their deep gratitude to the countless well-wishers worldwide who prayed and sent goodwill to the Princess and her family. The celebratory news comes just under two weeks after communication from Kensington Palace first made the public aware of Princess Catherine's hospitalization and abdominal surgery.

Based on the recovery timeline given in that first statement concerning how long the Princess was expected to stay at The London Clinic, Princess Catherine is on track to making a full recovery. However, as it stands, she will still only resume her royal obligations — as the first statement mentioned — after Easter.