Pippa Middleton was not regarded as "wife material" by Alex Loudon's family.

According to a friend of the younger sister of Britain's Duchess of Cambridge, the former cricketer's mother and father, James and Jane, didn't see the pair's relationship - which recently ended after 18 months together - lasting "long-term."

"Alex's parents were welcoming but they were always somewhat lukewarm about the relationship. They didn't see Pippa as 'wife material.' James and his wife Jane both come from very good families. Pippa is very sweet but she is socially ambitious - all her friends are so 'trophy posh' it's ridiculous. They didn't honestly see Alex and Pippa's relationship as a long-term thing. James and Jane are very old-fashioned and prefer to keep things low-key," a friend said.

Alex is also thought to have disliked Pippa's celebrity lifestyle because he "hates parities" and prefers to be out of the spotlight. "Pippa sees the connection with the Royal Family as a golden opportunity but she knows she cannot afford to look vulgar. She now gets invited to every show in town, every door is open to her but Alex hates parties. He loves his cricket and has a very close-knit circle of Old Etonian friends. Alex comes from a very well-to-do and discrete family who do not relish the spotlight. He hated the fact they were followed by paparazzi and he avoided going out because of it. Alex is very strait-laced. He loves his family and his friends and has no time for celebrity," another friend said.