Pippa scales Matterhorn in memory of fiance's brother

Pippa Middleton has successfully scaled one of the most challenging mountains in Europe in memory of her fiance's late brother.

The 32-year-old younger sister of the Duchess of Cambridge reached the summit of the Matterhorn, Switzerland, on Saturday morning with her brother James.

Speaking to the Daily Mail after her descent, she said it was "humbling" to have completed the climb.

Miss Middleton announced her engagement to financier James Matthews last week.

His brother Michael died in 1999 while descending Mount Everest having become the youngest Briton to reach the summit.

Miss Middleton was climbing to fund-raise for the charity set up in his name, the Michael Matthews Foundation, which builds schools in remote areas.

She said: "It was humbling to have been able to climb one of the world's most beautiful mountains and raise money for a charity created in memory of an extraordinary young man who lost his life on another peak.

"Although I have raised money in the past for the Michael Matthews Foundation, it has now become even more important to me and my family.

"Although neither I nor my brother ever met Michael, we both share his spirit and passion for the mountains. We made this climb knowing he would have been there nudging us on, and we are honoured to be supporting his memory."

The Matterhorn is a 14,692ft (4,478m) peak which has claimed the lives of more than 500 climbers.

Miss Middleton said that, before they reached the summit just after 7.30am, she and her brother had to look after each other as they found themselves scrambling up the rock and described the climb as "exhilarating".

Mr Matthews, the boss of Eden Rock Capital Management Group, did not complete the climb but Miss Middleton said he had given her his "complete support".