Rain did not deter the royals from coming out in force to celebrate Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling’s special day, reports ITV News’ Royal Editor Chris Ship
A quiet village in the Cotswolds is hosting a royal wedding today as senior members of the Royal Family celebrate the marriage of Princess Anne’s son, Peter Phillips.
The King and Queen, as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales, are in the congregation in Kemble near Cirencester.
It is the second marriage for both Peter Phillips and his bride, Harriet Sperling, who is a paediatric nurse in the NHS.
Peter’s children from his first marriage, Isla and Savannah, are the bridesmaids alongside Harriet Sperling’s daughter, Georgina.
It’s a private ceremony inside All Saints Church, but the arrival of so many royals has attracted large crowds and dozens of photographers.
Prince William, who is Peter Phillips’ cousin, and Kate are attending without their children.
Peter’s other cousins, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, are guests, but Prince Harry, another cousin, and Meghan are not expected.
Sources suggest Harry and Peter have not stayed in touch since the Duke of Sussex moved to California.
When he was born in 1977, Peter Phillips, now 48, was the late Queen Elizabeth’s first grandchild. His parents are the Princess Royal and her former husband, Captain Mark Philips.
Both parents will be at the church to see their son get married, along with Peter’s stepfather, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
The location of the wedding is close to where Princess Anne and Sir Tim live at Gatcombe Park; Harriet’s mother also lives in Gloucestershire.
Phillips and his first wife separated in 2020 after 12 years of marriage, and this service, in a small village church, is very different to his first wedding ceremony in 2008, in St George’s Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
Harriet Sperling was first linked to Mr Phillips in 2024, and at last year’s Royal Ascot, she was invited by the King to ride in the official carriage procession at the start of the day’s racing.
The Gloucestershire wedding ceremony is the first of two appointments for King Charles and Queen Camilla on Saturday, as they will head straight to the Epsom Derby in the afternoon for the key racing event, where they will present the trophy to the winning jockey.
The bride will be escorted to the church by her brother, Nicholas, as their father has passed away.
The mother-of-the-bride, Mary Sanders, will be at the service with Harriet’s other siblings, Louisa and Rebecca.
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