Princess Anne’s son, Peter Phillips, is preparing to marry Harriet Sperling after announcing their engagement on August 1. While no date has been confirmed, attention is already turning to whether the bride will wear a tiara.
The Princess Royal has previously loaned family heirlooms to her children on their wedding days.
When Mr Phillips married Autumn Kelly in 2008, Anne lent her the Festoon Tiara, a gift from the World-Wide Shipping Group in 1973.
It was the first time the piece had been seen on anyone other than the Princess herself.
Princess Anne set to make royal tiara decision ahead of son’s wedding
|GETTY
The Windsor wedding at St George’s Chapel was attended by Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Prince Harry, Zara Tindall and her then-boyfriend Mike, with Princess Kate also present.
Prince William, though close to his cousin, was abroad and unable to attend. Ms Kelly paired the tiara with a gown by Sassi Holford and diamond and pearl earrings believed to be a gift from Mr Phillips.
Anne herself first wore the Festoon Tiara in portraits by Lord Lichfield for her 23rd birthday, and again in photographs with her first husband, Mark Phillips, before their 1973 wedding.
When Zara married Mike Tindall in 2011, she also wore one of her mother’s tiaras.
Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly pictured at their 2008 wedding
|PA
Anne lent her the Greek Key Tiara, also known as Princess Andrew’s Meander Tiara, which once belonged to Princess Alice, mother of Prince Philip.
Created by Cartier in the early 1900s, the diamond piece symbolised happiness with honeysuckle motifs and was thought to be a nod to Zara’s equestrian career.
There is also precedent for second royal marriages without tiaras. When Princess Anne wed Sir Tim Laurence in 1989, she wore flowers in her hair.
Queen Camilla also avoided tiaras when marrying King Charles, choosing hats designed by Philip Treacy instead.
Harriet Sperling and Peter Phillips began dating in 2024 | PALATEST ROYAL NEWS:
Captain Mark Phillips and Princess Anne on their wedding day in 1973 | PAWhether or not Ms Sperling wears a tiara, she has already shown ease in royal settings. She joined Mr Phillips at Royal Ascot in 2024 and appeared again this summer in the royal carriage procession, dressed in cream and seated with author Anthony Horowitz and his wife.
Their engagement announcement read: “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 statement continued: “Both families were informed jointly of the announcement and were delighted with the wonderful news of their engagement. Their Majesties The King and Queen, and The Prince and Princess of Wales have been informed of the announcement.”