Pippa Middleton's father-in-law has been placed under formal investigation by French police over a suspected rape of a minor, reports say.

Paris prosecutors arrested David Matthews during a visit to France, but later released him and placed him under judicial control, a court source told the Reuters news agency.

Mr Matthews had been taken into custody for questioning last Tuesday by investigators from the country's juvenile protection brigade, it is claimed.

The source said the alleged rape took place in 1998-99 and Europe 1 reported that a complaint was filed in 2017.

Image: David Matthews is being investigated

A spokesperson for the Matthews family was quoted by the Daily Mail Online as saying: "David Matthews categorically denies the allegation and unequivocally contests the untrue and scandalous accusation."


Mr Matthews, who is in his early seventies, is the father of James Matthews, the husband of Pippa Middleton.

Pippa is the sister of Prince William's wife Kate.

David Matthews owns Eden Rock in St Barths, a luxury resort popular with the rich and famous.

His other son, Spencer Matthews, is a reality TV star.