Peter Phillips, the eldest offspring of Princess Anne, is set to marry Harriet Sperling on 6 June, with plans for the ceremony to be modest in scale. The nature of the event, described as an “intimate occasion,” has ignited speculation surrounding the invitation list, particularly concerning Peter’s half-sisters from his father’s side.
The impending nuptials are poised to see a significant turnout of royal family members, a testament to Peter’s status as both the son of the Princess Royal and the grandson of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Yet it remains uncertain whether his two half-sisters, Stephanie and Felicity, will receive invitations to the wedding.
Peter, aged 48, and his sister Zara Tindall, 45, are children of Princess Anne and her first husband, Mark Phillips. Anne and Mark, who were wedded from 1973 until their divorce in 1992, had a complex relationship marked by both public engagement and eventual separation. Following their divorce, Mark married Sandy Pflueger, a dressage rider from the United States, with whom he had a daughter, Stephanie, born in 1997.
Over the years, Stephanie has maintained a close bond with Peter and Zara, participating in significant family events, including Peter’s first wedding to Autumn Kelly in 2008, as well as Zara’s marriage to Mike Tindall in 2011, where she served as a flower girl. The family’s ties were further solidified when Princess Anne, Peter, and Zara attended Stephanie’s wedding to William Hosier in 2022.
While Stephanie has been involved in the family’s big occasions, coverage regarding Peter and Zara’s other half-sister, Felicity Tonkin, is notably sparse. Mark Phillips’s relationship with Felicity dates back to a past liaison, with her birth to art teacher Heather Tonkin in New Zealand in 1985. Following a DNA test confirming his paternity in 1991, Mark reportedly provided financial support throughout Felicity’s upbringing. However, it has been reported that Felicity has never had any direct contact with her royal half-siblings.
The dynamics of Peter’s upcoming marriage invite a closer examination of not only family connections but also the complex nature of royal relationships. While Peter’s immediate family, including Princess Anne and her current husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, are expected to be in attendance, there are notable absences from the guest list. For instance, Prince Harry, who was once close to Peter, will not be attending, having reportedly lost touch with him over the years. A friend of the couple noted that Harry was not invited due to these circumstances.
Moreover, the tumultuous backdrop of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson’s current legal challenges means they will also be absent from the festivities. A source close to Peter and Harriet shared that their presence would pose a distraction for the couple during this significant occasion.
As the wedding day approaches, anticipation builds around the potential royal guest list, which is expected to include prominent figures such as King Charles, Queen Camilla, and Prince Edward alongside their spouses. The wedding promises to be a moment of familial celebration, reflecting the ties and history of a family often under the public gaze.
While details of the day remain closely guarded, the union of Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling marks a notable chapter in the life of the royal family, intertwining past and present connections while navigating the complexities of modern royal life. As the date draws nearer, it increasingly represents not just a personal milestone for Peter and Harriet but a convergence point of familial bonds amid a wider royal narrative.