text: Photos of Pippa Middleton have made the sister-in-law of England's presumptive future king a worldwide sensation, but nothing quite like the shot this weekend when she was snapped laughing as a male companion in a car pointed a gun at a photographer following them in Paris. 
   
   Middleton, 28, was in the passenger seat of an Audi convertible with three male friends Sunday when the driver allegedly reached for a what appeared to be a semi-automatic gun and jokingly aimed it at a paparazzi following them, London newspaper The Sun reported. 
   
   The image shows Middleton, the younger sister of the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, looking back at the paparazzo and grinning as her friend, the driver, reaches down and aims what appears to be the gun. 
   
   But now it appears that the excitement, which included reports that Pippa Middleton could face criminal charges, may have been overblown. 
   
   ABC News has learned that the photographer says he knew all along the gun was a fake and has been telling people he never felt scared. Even friends of one of the young fashionistas in the car told ABC News today that they have the toy gun in their possession. 
   
   The Sun had reported that the Paris Judicial Police department is "poised" to launch a probe into the incident, but police told ABC News that there is no investigation, because no one has filed a complaint. 
   
   Middleton was reportedly in Paris to attend a costume birthday party at the Chez Raspoutine as a guest of fashion label owner Arthur de Soultrait, also a passenger in the car when the gun incident occurred. 
   
   "Pippa is a party girl. She mixes now in very high society and they don't come very higher than this group of French aristocratic sons," the Sun's royal editor, Duncan Larcombe, said of the three men Middleton was photographed with. 
   
   Even if the flap blows over, it is a a rare misstep for Middleton, who was dubbed "Her Royal Hotness" and became a target of paparazzi after she wowed onlookers as a bridesmaid at her sister's wedding to Prince William last April. 
   
   It was revealed in January that lawyers for Middleton sent a cease-and-desist letter around to six media agencies that distribute paparazzi photographs worldwide. The letter was said to warn the agencies that unless their photographers stop following Middleton, she will pursue legal action, which could include an injunction and legal costs. 
   
   Just prior to the letter being sent, the picture editor for U.K.'s Daily Mail newspaper reported that 400 photographs of Middleton cross his desk every single day. 
   
   Middleton, who lives in London and works for her family's party-planning business, was last said to be back in a serious romance with her old flame, George Percy, an heir to the Duke of Northumberland, one of Britain's grandest and richest titles. 
   
   "Pippa has been photographed; she's been coached on how to behave," Larcombe said. "If she's photographed by an unwanted freelance photographer, she smiles, she keeps her head up and she lets the lawyers doing the arguing behind the scenes. She knows much better than this." 
   
   Buckingham Palace said it would not comment on the incident, since it does not officially represent Middleton because she is not a member of the royal family. 
   
   "I think often by what they're not saying can often say more and I think there are some very nervous people behind the scenes right now," Larcombe said. 
   
   "I think, in fairness to her [Pippa], it will be interesting to know whether she told this guy off after he'd done something as stupid as this or whether she thinks it was all a big joke because in the pictures, unfortunately for her, it does look as though she found the funny side of it," he said. ||||| gungate 
   
   Gun not real, says spokesperson. Plus, check out our brief history of other scandalous royal and celeb siblings . 
   
   A spokesperson at Arthur de Soultrait's fashion company, Vicomte A, said this morning that the gun the driver of Pippa Middleton’s car pointed at a photographer Saturday was a fake. "It was not a real gun, it was just a stupid joke," said the spokesperson. That will do little to assuage anger at the idiotic stunt in Paris, where a recent spate of high-profile shootings have rocked the country. What was the driver- who has yet to be identified, although de Soultrait was in the back seat - thinking when he produced a very convincing-looking automatic pistol from the glovebox of his car, and pointed it at a photographer pursuing his car through the streets of Paris on Saturday? 
   
   And why did Pippa grin as he committed this idiotic act? 
   
   The charitable explanation is that it was a nervous reaction, or that the sister of future queen, Kate Middleton didn’t really realise what was going on. 
   
   Then again, maybe she thought it was funny. 
   
   The Paris police are now saying that all four of the people in the car could face arrest, and possibly, imprisonment for up to two years. 
   
   Fame Flynet Pippa in Paris this weekend, a few hours before the incident took place. On the right she is pictured with Marcy de Soultrait, Arthur's brother 
   
   If Pippa is called in for questioning by the French police, which seems a distinct possibility given public anger over the recent spate of high-profile shootings in France, the Gungate drama could completely overshadow the Diamond Jubilee celebrations taking place this year. 
   
   
   
   The shooter has yet to be identified, but, sitting in the back of the car, wearing a baseball cap, was Viscount Arthur de Soultrait, whose fancy dress party Pippa was attending in Paris. De Soultrait is an aristocratic fashion designer, and a friend of Pippa's (she previously stayed at his Paris apartment last May after attending the French Open). The party was on Friday night. These pictures were taken on Saturday as Pippa was driven to the Gare du Nord to get the Eurostar home. 
   
   Contacted this morning by the Daily Beast, Royal press officers refused to comment. They told the Royalist that Pippa is a ‘private individual’ and therefore not their responsibility. 
   
   Unbelievably, Palace press officers, who one might have assumed would be calmly preparing a humble written apology by Pippa to the people of Paris, and perhaps an expression of sympathy about the recent French shootings, and maybe a contribution to an appropriate charity, insist it’s nothing to do with them. 
   
   The Royalist wrote about the challenges that Pippa faces as being a sort-of-member of the Royal Family in early March - she is more famous than Kate in some parts of the world but has no protection as she is not an HRH. Remember when a truck driver, Erik Smedhs, came up to her and kissed her after a big cross-country ski race she did for charity in Sweden? 
   
   Of course then, one assumed the issue was stranger-danger, not unpredictable friends of her own choosing. 
   
   But this new incident highlights the challenges that Pippa faces as a public personality. 
   
   The Royalist’s view is that the Palace is being incredibly short-sighted not to bring Pippa into the fold officially, perhaps by making her a lady-in-waiting which was originally mooted, but was then quietly dropped on the grounds she would attract too much media attention. The Royal Family are (albeit indirectly) responsible for the fact that she is famous, and she should be given the same protection and advice that other Senior Royals are being given. 
   
   She is clearly more in need of protection than, say, Princess Eugenie, and she, and her bottom, have certainly done as much for the reinvigoration of the Royal brand as any HRH. 
   
   If Pippa does get arrested for this, which is a distinct possibility given public anger over the recent shootings in France, it will completely overshadow the Jubilee celebrations. Everyone in the car could face two years in jail, whether the gun is fake or real. ||||| Pippa, a gun scare and a risque night at the court of Paris's king of decadence 
   
   Friend of Her Royal Hotness brandished realistic-looking weapon 
   
   
   
   Police expected to question Prince William's new sister-in-law 
   
   If authorities want to prosecute, Pippa could be called as a witness 
   
   It happened hours after she attended decadent 18th century-style party 
   
   By Rebecca English 
   
   | 
   
   Only hours after a debauched aristocratic bash, Pippa Middleton was at the centre of controversy as she was photographed with a man brandishing a gun on the streets of Paris. 
   
   Prince William's new sister-in-law, dubbed Her Royal Hotness after her appearance at his wedding, is expected to be questioned by police after her companion pointed the realistic-looking weapon at a photographer who was following them. 
   
   It is not clear whether the pistol was real or a fake, but the French authorities are investigating the incident after receiving a complaint from a member of the public at a time when the capital is on high alert after a string of fatal shootings. 
   
   Scroll down for video 
   
   Gun drama: With Pippa in the front seat, the driver of the car had produced a pistol from the glove box 
   
   Pippa's male companions appear to find the gun stunt hilarious as stunned onlookers struggled to make out if the weapon was real 
   
   Taking aim: As the others laugh and smile, the driver of the car Pippa was in points the pistol directly at a photographer 
   
   Firearm terror: With the future Queen's sister sitting next to him, the man continues to point the weapon in the direction of a photographer Retail therapy: Pippa had made a last-minute dash to the shops before hopping into the convertible Audi belonging to her male companions in Paris 
   
   On the gilded throne: A smiling Pippa Middleton and other female guests join the Vicomte de Soultrait, who is wearing a dog collar and chain Party people: Pippa posed happily with the Vicomte de Soultrait (left) during the party thrown for her close French aristocrat friend 
   
   If they prosecute, the sister of the future Queen is likely to be called as a witness. The crime itself carries a maximum seven-year jail sentence. 
   
   Either way, the situation has the potential to cause acute embarrassment to the Royal Family as the Queen prepares to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee. 
   
   The incident occurred hours after Pippa, 28, was guest of honour at a decadent 18th century-themed party thrown by her close friend, the French aristocrat and designer Vicomte Arthur de Soultrait, on Friday. 
   
   The licentious bash at one of Paris's hottest nightspots saw costume-clad socialites greeted by three dwarves lounging on a sofa for their 'entertainment'. 
   
   It concluded with a stripper bursting out of a giant birthday cake before disrobing to a remix of God Save The Queen. 
   
   A smiling Pippa, in a scarlet corseted dress, even posed for photos perched on the side of a gilded throne – shipped in for the occasion – next to the vicomte, who wore a studded dog collar and chain. 
   
   Pippa, pictured at the back of the group next to the vicomte, was said to have been constantly surrounded by a 'gaggle of hangers-on' during the party 
   
   Guest of honour: Pippa with a man believed to be the vicomte's brother Marcy (left) and posing for a photo with the vicomte (right) Attraction: Sparks fly as a party performer grinds on the dancefloor 
   
   Scenes from the lavish party, attended by Pippa Middleton, in Paris to mark the seventh anniversary of Vicomte A a company formed by Arthur Solutrait, who also celebrated his 30th birthday at the event 
   
   Some pictures from the event have appeared on a publicly-accessible website set up to promote the party, while others have appeared on the website of the French magazine Le Point. 
   
   Pippa works as a party planner and is renowned for her assiduous development of society connections. Last year she stayed with de Soultrait at his multi-million-pound Paris home when she was invited to attend the French Open tennis tournament as a guest. 
   
   Arriving at his 30th birthday party on Friday at the Theatre Saint Germain she appeared to be dressed rather half-heartedly compared to the other guests in a ribboned corset top, under which she wore lacy legging and gold pumps. 
   
   But onlookers said she still managed to cause a stir and was constantly surrounded by 'a gaggle of hangers-on, like a swarm of bees', and had her own bodyguard who 'watched her constantly'. 
   
   Party animal: Entrepreneur Vicomte de Soultrait appeared to revel in the party atmosphere at the Paris nightspot. With the guests dressed in period costume, another performer plays tricks for the crowd 
   
   The party was, by all accounts, filled with 'feathers, baubles, jewels and privileged youngsters'. Some 300 guests including the cream of French, American, Latin American and English society had been invited to the bash, which was entitled 'Le Roi est Mort, Vive le Vicomte' (the king is dead, long live the vicomte). 
   
   Among them was a Marie-Antoinette lookalike, a reveller claiming to be sexual deviant the Marquis de Sade, and a man dressed as a cardinal who was carrying a copy of the Kama Sutra instead of a bible. 
   
   'We don't take ourselves too seriously,' said the vicomte's brother, Marcy. 
   
   Arthur went further, boasting: 'I love decadence. Today we're going to have fun.' 
   
   Champagne flowed and revellers posed suggestively in revealing outfits and cavorted with the dwarves in the dimly lit room, draped with red velvet curtains. 
   
   Party girl: Pippa, dubbed 'Her Royal Hotness', appeared relaxed and in a celebratory mood during the decadent 18th century-style party 
   
   Decadent: The partygoers in fancy dress pose around the throne with Pippa 
   
   The 'highlight' was the sight of a brunette stripper bursting out of a birthday cake and entertaining the guests, including Pippa, to a risque burlesque show which culminated in her striking her metal chastity belt with an electric angle grinder, showering the audience in sparks. 
   
   When midnight struck, the vicomte was given a Cartier watch as a present, before joking that he hoped to get a Rolex for his 40th. 
   
   The self-confessed party animal is one of the most successful young entrepreneurs in France and runs the upmarket Vicomte A clothing range. It is famed for its eye-wateringly bright preppy style clothing, such as polo shirts. 
   
   WHO IS VICOMTE DE SOULTRAIT? 
   
   A self-confessed party animal, Vicomte de Soultrait was - despite his supposed 'mortificaton' - yesterday still boasting to friends that 'any party where Pippa is goes with a swing'. 
   
   So who is the French aristocrat that has got the Duchess of Cambridge's younger sister in such hot water? 
   
   In fact, he is one of the most successful young entrepreneurs in France and runs the upmarket Vicomte A clothing range, which had a turnover of around £10million in 2010. 
   
   Arthur went into business while doing an internship in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2004, and began selling ties imported from Italy door-to-door. 
   
   Among the lucrative contracts he has picked up in recent years is a contract to supply ties to the French Olympic team - but his firm is as famed for its eye-wateringly bright preppy style clothing, such as polo shirts, which are immensely popular in France and Palm Beach. 
   
   They can be best described as a cross between Ralph Lauren and Gap – but very much targeted at wealthy young people like himself. 
   
   Hailing from a wealthy Burgundian family who have an estate in the region as well as a stunning chateau on the outskirts of Paris - to which Pippa is a frequent visitor - de Soultrait is a fanatically keen huntsman whose passion for anything connected with bloodsports is matched only by his love for the high life. 
   
   He plays polo to a high standard and has even been photographed with the Queen. 
   
   It is clear that his long-standing friendship with Pippa is now, given her sister's marriage, one he prizes even more highly. 
   
   Yesterday, a spokesman for his company insisted that the furor was a storm in a teacup. 'It was not a real gun. It was just a stupid joke,' they were reported to have said. 
   
   
   
   Hailing from a Burgundian family who have an estate in the region and a stunning chateau on the outskirts of Paris – to which Pippa is a frequent visitor – de Soultrait is a keen huntsman whose passion for bloodsports is matched only by his love of the high life. 
   
   He plays polo and has been photographed with the Queen. 
   
   After the birthday bash, Pippa was among partygoers driven to the trendy Raspoutine bar. According to sources, the high-spirited group did not arrive back at the vicomte's apartment in the expensive Rue de Varenne until 6am on Saturday. 
   
   Following a few hours of sleep, Pippa and her friends emerged in time for a late brunch nearby. 
   
   Afterwards she was driven to the Gard du Nord to catch the Eurostar home in a black Audi A5 convertible with red leather seats. 
   
   De Soultrait wore a baseball cap and sat in the back with an unidentified male friend, while Pippa hopped in the front and chatted with the mystery driver. It was on the journey to the station, at around 2pm, that the man spotted a photographer pulling up behind him on a moped in stationary traffic. 
   
   As his friends – including Pippa – smirked, the driver reached into his glove box and pulled out the weapon before aiming it directly at the photographer. 
   
   It is not clear whether the pistol was real or a fake – but his actions constitute an offence under French law either way. A judicial source said: 'Anybody involved in the illegal use of a handgun in public is liable to arrest and interrogation.' 
   
   If the gun was real, those involved in the incident face up to seven years in prison. If it is a fake, they could be jailed for two years. 
   
   Sources indicated that the weapon looked similar to a Sig Sauer P226, used by numerous law enforcement and military organizations worldwide as well as by personal bodyguards. 
   
   France is on a heightened security alert after Islamic terrorist Mohammed Merah shot dead seven people in the south-west of the country last month. 
   
   And two men were arrested in Paris at the weekend in connection with four murders carried out with a pistol over the past five months. If the French authorities decide to question Pippa, the episode could turn into a major incident. 
   
   Striking up the party: The French aristocrat looks on in amazement as a scantily-clad dancer emerges in front of the vicomte 
   
   Raunchy: A provocatively-dressed dancer in suspenders and a corset emerges from a giant cake sculpture as the celebrations continued Fancy dress: Guests got into the spirit of the 18th century-style party hosted by Vicomte de Soultrait Provocative: Partygoers, including one dressed as a nun who later removes her wimple to dance with a dwarf 
   
   Diplomatic sources in the city said the 'phones from London were already red hot about Pippa's involvement'. 'There is anger in London in royal circles that she has been dragged into this when she was just a passenger in the car,' said one. 
   
   At least one witness has made a formal complaint to police. This is not believed to be the photographer concerned, who is still considering his options. 
   
   The complaint has been handed to the judicial police who are conducting a preliminary investigation before deciding whether to alert an examining magistrate. 
   
   St James's Palace declined to comment while the Middleton family solicitor failed to respond to repeated requests for a comment. 
   
   Sources close to the Vicomte de Soultrait said he was 'mortified' and was 'preparing to explain' to the authorities what had happened. 
   
   Friends refused to the name the driver who brandished the gun but said he was 'keeping a low profile and hoping everything will calm down'. 
   
   
   
   
   
   Video: Pippa stars in Vicomte A fashion film
target: – A "gun joke" involving palace sis-in-law Pippa Middleton is causing a royal stir. The driver of a car that Pippa, 28, was riding in smilingly pointed what looked like a gun at pestering paparazzi in Paris over the weekend. Now he says he was just goofing around, and the gun wasn't real. "It was not a real gun. It was just a stupid joke," said a representative. The French aren't laughing, though, especially in the wake of the shocking shootings in Toulouse last month. Paris authorities warned that everyone in the car (including grinning Pippa) could face arrest and even two years in prison. "Anybody involved in the illegal use of a handgun in public is liable to arrest and interrogation," a source told the Sun. But so far, no one has filed a complaint, and the "targeted" photographer didn't feel threatened, reports ABC. The driver hasn't yet been identified. Her Royal Hotness was in the front passenger's seat, and sitting in the back were two men, including aristocrat fashion designer Viscount Arthur de Soultrait, whose wild birthday party Pippa attended (for photos, check here). Buckingham Palace reps are keeping mum, saying Pippa is a "private individual" and not their concern.