Peter Phillips is preparing to marry Harriet Sperling this weekend, a notable event marking his position as the first member of his royal generation to remarry following a divorce. As the eldest grandson of the late Queen Elizabeth II and the son of Princess Anne, Phillips’ upcoming nuptials are generating significant interest, albeit with some familiar faces missing from the guest list.
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The wedding will take place on 6 June at All Saints’ Church in Kemble. Friends of the couple have described the celebration as an “intimate occasion,” indicating a focus on family rather than a grand royal spectacle. This modest approach is understandable given that both bride and groom are entering their second marriages. Nonetheless, the event is expected to attract key figures from the royal family.
Immediate family members, including Phillips’ two daughters from his previous marriage, are anticipated to attend the ceremony. Savannah, aged 15, and Isla, aged 14, will join their father at the wedding. Harriet Sperling, a mother herself, has a teenage daughter, 13-year-old Georgina, from her former marriage. Georgina has already established connections with her future step-sisters, having joined them for an Easter Sunday service at Windsor Castle earlier this year.
The presence of their parents and siblings is almost a certainty. Princess Anne, along with her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, is likely to attend, as are Phillips’ sister Zara Tindall and her husband Mike. It is speculated that their children, Mia, 12, Lena, 7, and Lucas, 5, may also be included in the family gathering. Phillips’ father, Mark, along with his half-sister Stephanie, is among those who may grace the aisle at Kemble.
Notably absent from the guest list are several prominent royal figures due to overlapping commitments. King Charles and Queen Camilla have prior engagements on the same day, attending the Betfred Derby Day at Epsom Downs, scheduled for the evening. While they may attempt to make a brief appearance at the wedding, the timeline appears challenging for them.
Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, are expected to make an appearance, along with Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, although it remains uncertain if their children will accompany them. Edward and Sophie’s children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex, have not been part of the close-knit royal circle in the same way as the older grandchildren, suggesting they may opt out of the proceedings.
In a notable absence, Prince Harry, who used to have a close relationship with Phillips, has not received an invitation for the wedding. Friends close to the situation have confirmed the ongoing estrangement between Harry and the royal family has resulted in Phillips opting not to extend an invitation. Meanwhile, spokespeople for both the Duke of Sussex and Phillips refrained from commenting on the matter.
Additionally, former Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson have also been omitted from the guest list. Sources suggest that their involvement might attract unwanted attention, particularly in light of recent legal challenges faced by Andrew. The former royal was arrested earlier this year due to allegations related to misconduct during his tenure as a trade envoy, and the ethics of their connections to the late Jeffrey Epstein have resurfaced in public discussions. Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, are reportedly choosing to distance themselves from the controversies surrounding their parents, focusing instead on their own families.
Despite the absence of several notable royals, Beatrice and Eugenie are thought to attend the wedding. This will be a considerable royal engagement for them since the media scrutiny intensified due to their family’s challenges. The occasion comes at a poignant time for Eugenie, who recently revealed her pregnancy with her third child, adding a celebratory note to the event for the younger royal generation.
As Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling prepare for their wedding, the event is likely to be a blend of joy and reflection, marking not only a new chapter for both individuals but also illustrated by the notable faces absent from the celebration. As they unite their families, the couple’s nuptials offer a fresh perspective on modern royal life and the evolving dynamics within the British monarchy.