Pippa Middleton's friend has apologised after his pal aimed a toy gun at photographers in Paris.

French aristocrat Arthur de Soultrait - who was hosting the fancy dress party which the sister of Britain's Duchess Catherine went to the French capital to attend - ''regrets enormously'' that the incident occurred and particularly that Pippa has been the ''subject''.

He explained in a statement: ''I was in a car with Philippa Middleton, and we were being followed by paparazzi.

''She had been subject to constant and Dangerous harassment by paparazzi throughout her time in Paris. The car was being driven by a friend of mine, whom Pippa had only met a few hours before. As a joke, my friend brandished a toy pistol in their direction.

''I regret enormously that this incident happened, and especially that Pippa has been subject.''

Arthur insists Pippa had ''no idea'' that her friend was going to brandish the toy gun and says ''she did not find it funny''.

He added: ''Obviously Philippa had no idea that he was going to do that and told him to stop immediately. She did not find it funny.