Peter Phillips marries Harriet Sperling in private ceremony attended by King Charles and senior royals

Peter Phillips, who is the son of Princess Anne, 75, and her first husband Mark Phillips, does not carry a royal title. Princess Anne and Mark Phillips decided early on that their son would not use a royal style. The couple announced their engagement in the summer of 2025, with Phillips having proposed that same summer.

A second marriage for the groom

For Phillips, the wedding at All Saints' Church in Kemble, near Cirencester, marks his second marriage. He separated from his first wife, Autumn Kelly, four years before 2024, according to the BBC, and the former couple, who were married for 13 years, share two daughters. Sperling has a daughter from a previous relationship, and the couple reportedly met at a sporting event where their children were participating.

After the church service, the bride waved at onlookers from a car that took her to the reception, with her husband beside her. A wedding reception is planned at Gatcombe Park, the Gloucestershire estate of Princess Anne, where Phillips and his sister Zara Tindall, 45, grew up.

Guests and notable absences

Among the other guests were Princesses Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 36 — the daughters of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson — who attended with their husbands. Prince Edward, 62, and his wife Sophie, 61, were also present and celebrated with Princess Anne, the mother of the groom.

Notably absent were Prince William and Princess Kate's three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis did not attend the wedding. Princess Kate wore a light, short-sleeved Roland Mouret dress with a wide skirt and buttons at the front, along with a matching summer hat; the Daily Mail reported the dress was priced at £750 (approximately 870 euros).

King Charles III and Queen Camilla did not attend the reception at Gatcombe Park. After the church ceremony, the King and Queen traveled onward to the Epsom Derby horse race, where they are expected to present the winner's prize.

Royal family finances under scrutiny

The wedding took place against the backdrop of renewed scrutiny of the royal family's finances and of Prince Andrew in particular. A report by Britain's National Audit Office released the Friday before the wedding found that Prince Andrew had lived rent-free for years at the Royal Lodge estate in Windsor, generating income from subletting outbuildings. The same report noted that Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have very favourable rental agreements for their royal residences, with the costs paid by their uncle King Charles III.

Prince Andrew, the brother of King Charles III, has had all his titles and honours stripped from him over time amid the scandal surrounding deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He was temporarily arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, and police investigations against him continue. He is now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie do not perform official duties for the royal family.

Phillips's sister Zara Tindall, 45, was among the family members celebrating at the ceremony. The wedding was described as a private affair, consistent with the couple's low public profile since their engagement was announced in the summer of 2025.