It could be a throwback to her own happy childhood when parents Carole and Michael instilled a lifelong love of skiing in two daughters who share the same age gap as her own.

But for Pippa Middleton, 42, it was just last week that she guided her young daughters Grace, five, and Rose, three, through the snow on a family ski break in the French Alps.

Laughing as she encouraged the pair, she may well have cast her mind back to family holidays with big sister Kate, 44, the Princess of Wales, their parents and brother James.

But Kate and Prince William and their own trio were nowhere to be seen this time even though the whole Middleton clan often ski together.

Sporty Pippa enjoyed an Easter break in a luxury chalet with her husband, hedge fund tycoon James Matthews, and children, including son Arthur, seven.

Pippa, who has become a veteran competitor in tough ski challenges around Europe, was clearly doing her best to ensure her little girls will share her love of the slopes.

Pippa Middleton, 42, guides her young daughters Grace, five, and Rose, three, through the snow on a family ski break in the French Alps
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Pippa Middleton, 42, guides her young daughters Grace, five, and Rose, three, through the snow on a family ski break in the French Alps

Laughing as she encouraged the pair, she may well have cast her mind back to family holidays with big sister Kate, 44, the Princess of Wales, their parents and brother James
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Laughing as she encouraged the pair, she may well have cast her mind back to family holidays with big sister Kate, 44, the Princess of Wales, their parents and brother James

Pippa was flying the flag in patriotic colours with bright red ski pants and a two-tone blue jacket with a red and white chevron design
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James, 50, in dark trousers and a vivid blue top and aviator sunglasses, skied on solo ahead
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Pippa was flying the flag in patriotic colours while James wore dark trousers and a vivid blue top

Pippa skied along slowly between her girls while guiding them with her ski poles
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Pippa skied along slowly between her girls while guiding them with her ski poles

She smiled as she gently encouraged Grace, while she turned and urged on Rose who was intently holding on to her other pole
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She smiled as she gently encouraged Grace, while she turned and urged on Rose who was intently holding on to her other pole

The girls were almost identically dressed in black ski trousers and red and white jackets with protective white helmets and wearing goggles
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The girls were almost identically dressed in black ski trousers and red and white jackets with protective white helmets and wearing goggles

Pippa can be seen supportively urging on her daughter Rose, three - with an encouraging word as well as her her ski poles
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Pippa can be seen supportively urging on her daughter Rose, three – with an encouraging word as well as her her ski poles

The girls were taken on a winter escape in the French Alps for a ski getaway where they stayed in a stunning private chalet
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The girls were taken on a winter escape in the French Alps for a ski getaway where they stayed in a stunning private chalet

Kate and Prince William and their own trio were nowhere to be seen this time - even though the whole Middleton clan often ski together
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Kate and Prince William and their own trio were nowhere to be seen this time – even though the whole Middleton clan often ski together

Hedge fund tycoon James Matthews encourages his daughter as the pair are seen skiing together through the French Alps
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Hedge fund tycoon James Matthews encourages his daughter as the pair are seen skiing together through the French Alps

James, 50, in blue trousers and jacket with a red and white stripe, helmet and aviator sunglasses, skied on solo ahead.

The girls were almost identically dressed in black ski trousers and red and white jackets with protective white helmets and wearing goggles.

Pippa was flying the flag in patriotic colours with bright red ski pants and a two-tone blue jacket with a red and white chevron design. She wore a black helmet with her designer Oakley goggles pushed up.

She skied along slowly between her girls while guiding them with her ski poles. She smiled as she gently encouraged Grace, while she turned and urged on Rose who was intently holding on to her other pole.