Wedding of the year in the Cotswolds: how Princess Anne's son married a nurse surrounded by the royal family

Peter Phillips, the eldest grandson of the late Queen Elizabeth II, married children's nurse Harriet Sperling. King Charles III, Queen Camilla, as well as Prince William and Kate Middleton attended the private ceremony in a provincial church.

The British royal family arrived in full force for one of the most anticipated social events of the summer of 2026. Peter Phillips, son of Princess Anne and 19th in line to the British throne, has formalized his relationship with his lover, nurse Harriet Sperling.

Secret wedding in the Cotswolds

class=»notranslate»>__GTAG11__The ceremony took place on Saturday, June 6, 2026, in the ancient Church of All Saints in the village of Kemble, Gloucestershire. The location is in the heart of the picturesque Cotswolds, just a short drive from Gatcombe Park, Princess Anne's country estate where the groom grew up. The bride also grew up in this area, and her parents were parishioners of the local Anglican church for many years.

Unlike the first wedding of Peter Phillips in 2008, which thundered throughout the world in St. George's Chapel in Windsor, this ceremony was exclusively private and family in nature. The couple preferred the cozy provincial atmosphere to the lush state protocol. Harriet Sperling was escorted down the aisle by her brother Nicholas, as the bride's father had passed away several years earlier. Three girls were bridesmaids: Harriet's daughter from her first marriage, 15-year-old Georgina, and Peter's daughters, 14-year-old Savannah and 13-year-old Isla.

Celebrity guests: Kate Middleton and King Charles III

Despite the modest status of the event, the main officials of the British monarchy came to support the newlyweds. Journalists recorded the arrival of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. This Saturday turned out to be extremely busy for the monarch: immediately after the wedding, the royal couple went to the famous Epsom Derby horse race to present the trophy to the winner.

The Prince and Princess of Wales attracted particular attention from the press. Looking great, Kate Middleton chose a stylish dress in a soft pink shade for the celebration. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie and their spouses, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and Zara and Mike Tindall also attended the wedding. Princess Anne herself arrived accompanied by her husband Timothy Lawrence. Anna's first husband, Captain Mark Phillips, was also present at the event, emphasizing the warm family atmosphere.

However, there were family disputes that are traditional for Buckingham Palace. According to British tabloids, Prince Harry did not receive an invitation to the celebration in order to avoid unnecessary press attention and family drama. Princess Anne personally insisted on protecting this important day from public scandal.

Family business and modest luxury

48-year-old Peter Phillips is a successful sports manager. Since he does not carry out official royal duties on behalf of the Crown, his activities are entirely focused in the commercial sector. His fiancee, Harriet Sperling, works as a pediatric nurse in the UK's public health system (NHS). The couple first announced their relationship in 2024, and announced their engagement in 2025.

Since both newlyweds were previously married (Peter divorced Autumn Kelly in 2021), the couple needed to obtain special permission from church authorities to get married in a church. As a result, the holiday turned out to be truly warm and British: without unnecessary pathos, but in compliance with the main traditions of the United Kingdom. It is known that the wedding banquet was held in a narrow circle at Princess Anne's country house.

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