Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Nicole Wootton-Cane

Who is Harriet Sperling? The NHS nurse turned royal who wed ‘Queen’s favourite grandson’

It was a fairytale wedding for Harriet Sperling and Peter Phillips as they tied the knot in the quaint village of Kemble in Gloucestershire on Saturday.

Even the rain couldn’t dampen the smiles of the bride and groom as they emerged from All Saints’ Church as man and wife in front of guests including the King and Queen, the Princess of Wales, and Zara and Mike Tindall.

Mr Phillips is the late Queen Elizabeth II’s eldest (and, according to some, favourite) grandson, King Charles’ nephew, and the son of Princess Anne.

Here’s everything you need to know about his new wife Harriet Sperling following the pair’s nuptials.

When did they start dating?

The couple were first reported to have begun dating in 2024.

Reports in Hello! magazine suggest they met at a sporting event attended by their children, who are from previous marriages. Peter is a father to teenagers Savannah, 15, and Isla, 14, whom he shares with ex-wife Autumn Kelly. Ms Sperling is a mother to Georgina, 13, sharing the teenager with her ex-husband, Antonio St John Sperling.

Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling in 2024 (Jonathan Brady/PA) (PA Wire)
Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling in 2024 (Jonathan Brady/PA) (PA Wire)

Their first public outing as a couple came at the Badminton Horse Trials final day in May 2024.

Since then they have attended a number of royal events together, including Royal Ascot as guests of King Charles and Queen Camilla in June.

When did they get engaged?

The couple announced their engagement in August 2025.

Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling in the Royal Box (Adam Davy/PA) (PA Wire)
Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling in the Royal Box (Adam Davy/PA) (PA Wire)

A statement said: "Mr Peter Phillips, the son of HRH The Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips, and Ms Harriet Sperling, daughter of the late Mr Rupert Sanders and Mrs Mary Sanders of Gloucestershire, have today confirmed their official engagement."

Who is Harriet Sperling?

Ms Sperling is a paediatric nurse for the NHS, and has previously written publicly about her experiences as a single mother.

A devout Christian, she wrote a column under the name Harriet Sanders for Christian magazine Woman Alive on the subject.

Harriet Sperling waves from a vehicle as she sits with Peter Phillips (Reuters)
Harriet Sperling waves from a vehicle as she sits with Peter Phillips (Reuters)

“It is often tough parenting alone but although there is a stigma to endure, God is able to step in and turn it for good,” she wrote.

“The unique relationship between a single mother and her child is forged in the fires of struggles and victories. It’s a bond characterised by a love and survival against the odds.”

Her biography on the site reads: "Based in Gloucestershire, Harriet Sanders is a freelance writer and works as a paediatric nurse specialist for the NHS. She is passionate about early brain development in babies and seeing children thrive."

Ms Sperling was accompanied into the church on Saturday by her teenage daughter Georgina.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.