Royal Wedding Bells Ring for Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling in the Cotswolds
The British royal family celebrated another momentous occasion on Saturday as Peter Phillips married NHS paediatric nurse Harriet Sperling. The private ceremony took place at All Saints Church in the quaint Cotswolds village of Kemble in Gloucestershire.
Phillips, the 48-year-old son of Princess Anne and the eldest grandson of the late Queen Elizabeth II, was surrounded by senior royals and close friends for his second walk down the aisle. He currently works as a sports management executive and is 19th in the line of succession to the British throne.
A timeless bridal look
The picturesque village was buzzing with excitement as members of the public gathered behind metal barriers hoping to catch a glimpse of the arrivals. Sperling stunned the crowd in a high-neck lace wedding gown designed by Emilia Wickstead, perfectly complemented by a long flowing veil and the historic Pragnell family tiara.
In a touching display of their newly blended family, the bridal party featured three special young bridesmaids. Peter’s daughters, fifteen-year-old Savannah Phillips and fourteen-year-old Isla Phillips, walked alongside Harriet’s thirteen-year-old daughter, Georgina Sperling.
All three girls wore matching white high-neck dresses by the same designer. Following the church service, the newlyweds and their guests sped away for an intimate reception at Gatcombe Park, Princess Anne’s nearby country estate.
A star-studded royal guest list
Despite heavy morning rain, the royal family turned out in full force to support the couple. King Charles and Queen Camilla attended the morning service before making a swift departure to present the trophy at the Epsom Derby later in the afternoon.
The Prince and Princess of Wales were also present, with Kate opting for a chic peach dress and coordinating boater hat beside Prince William. The groom’s mother, Princess Anne, and his stepfather, Sir Timothy Laurence, proudly watched the ceremony alongside Peter’s sister and brother-in-law, Zara and Mike Tindall.
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, the daughters of Prince Andrew, also made an appearance with their respective husbands. Noticeably absent from the festivities were the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as Prince Harry and his family reportedly did not receive an invitation amidst ongoing tensions with the broader royal institution.
A new chapter
The couple first went public with their relationship at the Badminton Horse Trials in May 2024 and officially announced their engagement in August 2025. The Gloucestershire wedding marks a fresh start for Phillips, whose 12-year marriage to his first wife Autumn Kelly ended in a separation in 2020 and a subsequent divorce in 2021.
Sperling, a respected NHS nurse specialist and freelance writer, has seamlessly integrated into royal life over the past two years, making several public appearances alongside the family at events like Royal Ascot and the traditional Easter church service.
