Royal wedding: Who is NHS nurse Harriet Sperling?

Peter Phillips, the nephew of King Charles and son of Princess Anne, married NHS nurse Harriet Sperling in a private ceremony on Saturday at All Saints Church in Kemble, Gloucestershire. The wedding was attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales, marking Sperling's formal entry into the Royal Family.

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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.

The couple's engagement was announced in August 2025, with a statement confirming their intention to marry. The Royal Family expressed delight at the news. Phillips, 48, and Sperling, 45, were first reported to be dating in 2024, reportedly meeting at a sporting event attended by their daughters. They made several public appearances together, including at Royal Ascot and Wimbledon.

Sperling, who previously used the name Harriet Sanders, works as a pediatric nurse specialist for the NHS and has written about her experiences as a single mother. In a March 2024 column for the Christian magazine Woman Alive, she reflected on parenting her daughter, Georgina, for ten years alone. Her biography on the site highlights her passion for early brain development in children.

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The Royal Family were informed and said to be "delighted with the wonderful news of their engagement."

Phillips has two daughters, Savannah and Isla, from his previous marriage to Autumn Kelly. Sperling's union with Phillips signifies a new chapter for both, blending their families and welcoming her into the royal fold.

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I liken us to an island and it has often felt hard to imagine anyone joining that island.