Princess Anne’s son Peter Phillips is marrying NHS nurse Harriet Sperling, two years after they first met, with senior royals on hand to welcome the newest member of the Royal Family
It is one of the most high-profile weddings of the year and will see the bride complete her journey today from NHS nurse to the Royal Family’s newest member.
Peter Phillips, the son of Princess Anne, is set to marry fiancée Harriet Sperling this afternoon in a church service in Gloucestershire in front of a string of senior royals – cementing his new wife’s place in the Firm. It has been an incredible journey for Harriet, a previously single mum-of-one and NHS children’s nurse, who has enjoyed a whirlwind romance with her new husband.
Single mum
Hailing from Gloucestershire, Harriet, 45, is a paediatric NHS nurse and freelance writer, who is “passionate about early brain development in babies and seeing children thrive”, according to an online nursing biography.
She is also a single mother to her 13-year-old daughter, Georgina, from her first marriage to fitness instructor Antonio St John Sperling. Harriet is also known for having strong religious roots – having previously shared how she took great strength from her Christian faith as she battled through the early years of single parenthood when “resources were scarce and the future was uncertain”.
In an interview in 2009, she said: “Somehow [faith] didn’t seem relevant to my life in London. But the end of a seven-year relationship was the turning point for me. I went to church as I felt there was something missing.”
Romance blossoms
Harriet and Peter reportedly met in spring 2024 at a sporting event involving their daughters. Just months later, the couple made their public debut as they appeared together at the Badminton Horse Trials, where Harriet mingled with Peter’s mum, Anne, sister-in-law-to-be Zara as well as Queen Camilla.
A friend of Phillips told The Telegraph at the time that the pair were “enjoying each other’s company and spending time together like any normal couple”, while an onlooker said of Sperling: “She looked very happy and relaxed in his company and pleased to be shown off at one of the biggest social events in the equestrian world.”
Throughout the first year of their relationship, the couple were spotted together at a number of social events together, such as Wimbledon as well as Cheltenham Races. In June last year, they attended Royal Ascot together where Harriet made her debut in one of the carriages during the royal procession – with the move being seen as a significant sign of her moving into the royal fold.
Harriet has been warmly welcomed by the Royal Family over the past two years, as she has been seen chatting and laughing with King Charles, Queen Camilla and Princess Anne at royal events. She also joined the royals for their annual summer break in Balmoral last year.
At Easter, Harriet along with her daughter Georgina, joined all of the senior royals at Windsor Castle for the annual Easter Sunday service at St George’s Chapel.
As Harriet has slotted in perfectly to the Royal Family, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond said that she is a perfect addition to the family with her charm and down-to-earth nature.
Jennie told the Mirror: “Oh my goodness, doesn’t she just look the part? I can’t even imagine how nerve-racking it must be to step into one of the most famous families in the world. But Harriet Sperling seems to have done just that with consummate ease.
“Peter has always been a very popular member of the family, so I’m sure his relatives would have done their very best to make his new love feel at ease. Whatever she might be feeling inside, Harriet oozes a calm confidence. Her strength of character may come from being a single, working mum.
“Her first marriage, to a fitness instructor, ended when their daughter, Georgina, was a toddler. So, for 10 years she was pretty much on her own, working as a paediatric nurse in the NHS. Money was tight and life wasn’t always easy. She has a deep interest in the early development of the brain, so I’m sure she’ll have a lot of common ground with the Princess of Wales who, as we know, is passionate about the early years of life.”
A royal engagement
On August 1, 2025, the couple announced their engagement after one year of dating. A statement on behalf of the couple read: “Mr Peter Phillips, the son of HRH The Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips and Ms Harriet Sperling, daughter of the late Mr Rupert Sanders and Mrs Mary Sanders of Gloucestershire, have today confirmed their official engagement.
“Both families were informed jointly of the announcement and were delighted with the wonderful news of their engagement. Their Majesties The King and Queen, The Prince and Princess of Wales have been informed of the announcement.”
Pictures showed the newly-engaged couple happily posing for the camera with Harriet showing off her diamond engagement ring. Peter chose a stunning engagement ring from Pragnell, a Mayfair jeweller that has longstanding connections to the royal family and is largely considered one of the world’s finest outlets for luxury jewellery.
With Harriet officially set to join the Royal Family in mere hours, Jennie added: “It can only be good for the Royal Family to have someone in their midst who knows a lot about life outside the gilded cage. And Harriet seems to have struck up a strong relationship with her in-laws to be, Zara and Mike Tindall. They’ve been seen out as a foursome and look supremely relaxed together.
“The wedding, and the reception, should be a whole lot of fun — quite different to the highly formal, grand ceremonies of recent years. Like any bride, I’m sure Harriet will have some nervous moments on the day itself. But, from what we’ve seen so far, she has been warmly welcomed into the family already, and seems to have taken to it all like a duck to water.”
Unlucky in love
The wedding is a second marriage for both Peter and Harriet, who have each been married once before.
Peter married his first wife Autumn back in May 2008 in a grand ceremony at St George’s Chapel in Windsor, with guests including the late Queen and Prince Philip as well as his cousin Prince Harry, although Prince William was unable to attend.
The couple spent time living in Hong Kong through Peter’s previous job with the Royal Bank of Scotland and eventually settled back in the UK with their two daughters Savannah, 14, the late Queen’s oldest great-grandchild and Isla, 13.
However, towards the end of 2019, the couple separated and revealed they had taken the difficult step in an emotional statement in 2020 – just weeks after Harry and Meghan Markle announced they were quitting their royal roles.
In 2021, the couple’s divorce was finalised “amicably” and they released a statement explaining: “Whilst this is a sad day for Peter and Autumn, they continue to put the wellbeing and upbringing of their wonderful daughters Savannah and Isla first and foremost.
“Both Peter and Autumn are pleased to have resolved matters amicably with the children firmly at the forefront of those thoughts and decisions. Peter and Autumn have requested privacy and consideration for their children as the family adapts to a new chapter in their lives.”
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