Peter Phillips: Biography, Career, and 2026 Wedding

Few members of the British royal family have kept as low a profile as Peter Phillips. As the eldest grandson of Queen Elizabeth II, he grew up in the spotlight but chose a career far from palace duties—in sports sponsorship and management. Now, with his June 2026 wedding to nurse Harriet Sperling, he’s back in the headlines, offering a rare look at how a non-working royal builds a life outside the firm.

Full name: Peter Mark Andrew Phillips ·
Born: 15 November 1977 ·
Parents: Anne, Princess Royal, and Mark Phillips ·
Position in succession: 18th (as of 2026) ·
First marriage: Autumn Kelly (2008–2021) ·
Second marriage: Harriet Sperling (2026)

The table below summarises the key biographical milestones for Peter Phillips.

What does Peter Phillips do for a living?

Career in sports sponsorship and management

Peter Phillips is a British businessman whose professional path has deliberately stayed outside the royal payroll. After graduating from the University of Exeter with a degree in Sports Science, he entered the world of motorsport and brand partnerships. According to British Heritage Travel (history and travel publication), he worked for Jaguar Racing and the Williams Formula 1 team, gaining experience in high-speed sponsorship deals.

Role at SEL UK and other ventures

Today he serves as managing director of SEL UK, a sports and entertainment agency based in London. The firm specialises in athlete management, event logistics, and corporate hospitality—skills that match the private-sector ethos of a man who has never drawn a sovereign grant. The company’s client list is not public, but his career reflects a clear choice to build a commercial identity separate from the monarchy.

Does Peter Phillips have kids?

Names and ages of his daughters

Yes, Peter Phillips has two daughters with his first wife, Autumn Phillips. Savannah Phillips was born on 29 December 2010, and Isla Phillips on 21 March 2012. Both girls carry the Phillips surname and hold no royal titles, consistent with their father’s untitled status. They appear occasionally at public events such as the Trooping the Colour ceremony, where they have been photographed alongside their cousin Mia Tindall.

Relationship with ex-wife Autumn Phillips

After their divorce was finalised in 2021, Peter and Autumn Phillips have maintained a co-parenting arrangement. According to Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia), the separation was announced in February 2020 and described as amicable. Autumn, a Canadian who moved to the UK after marriage, continues to live in Gloucestershire near the family home, facilitating shared custody of Savannah and Isla.

How did Harriet Sperling and Peter Phillips meet?

Their relationship timeline

Harriet Sperling is an NHS nurse from Gloucestershire. According to People (celebrity news magazine), she and Peter Phillips were introduced through mutual friends in 2021, shortly after his divorce from Autumn was finalised. Their relationship developed quietly, away from the media glare that typically surrounds royal romances. By early 2026, news of an engagement had circulated, and the couple set a summer wedding date.

Wedding details in June 2026

The wedding took place on 6 June 2026 at All Saints Church in Kemble, Gloucestershire—a small, picturesque village near Cirencester. ABC News (major US news network) reported that the ceremony was a private family affair, with King Charles III and Queen Camilla in attendance. Harper’s Bazaar (fashion and culture magazine) noted it was one of the major royal gatherings of the year, drawing attention because of Peter’s unique position as the monarch’s non-titled nephew.

Why did Autumn and Peter Phillips split up?

Announcement and reasons for divorce

Autumn and Peter Phillips announced their separation in February 2020, ending a marriage of nearly 12 years. The couple released a joint statement at the time, asking for privacy “as they navigate the next chapter.” According to Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia), the divorce was finalised in 2021. No specific reasons were given publicly, and both parties have maintained discretion about the split.

Post-divorce co-parenting

Despite the divorce, the two have remained on friendly terms, attending their daughters’ school events and family gatherings together. Autumn continues to live in the Cotswolds area, enabling the children to have regular contact with both parents. The amicable arrangement suggests that the separation, while painful, was managed with the children’s welfare as the priority.

The implication: even in a high-profile family, some matters stay private.

Will Prince Harry attend Peter Phillips’ wedding?

Guest list speculation

Before the wedding, speculation ran high about which royals would attend. Given the ongoing rift between Prince Harry and the rest of the family, many wondered if he would make an appearance at his cousin’s ceremony. According to reports from Harper’s Bazaar (fashion and culture magazine), the guest list was kept intentionally small—approximately 80 people—and consisted primarily of close family and friends.

Royal family attendance

Prince Harry did not attend. King Charles III and Queen Camilla were present, along with Zara and Mike Tindall, Princess Anne, and other senior members. The absence of Harry was widely noted but not unexpected, given the tension that has defined his relationship with the family since stepping back from royal duties in 2020.

The pattern: private family occasions now require careful choreography, with attendance often serving as a barometer of relational standing.

Peter Phillips has crafted a life deliberately separate from the monarchy’s daily machinery—a career in business, two marriages, and two daughters who carry no title. For the British royal family, his path underscores an uncomfortable question: how does an institution that relies on public fascination stay relevant when its most private members choose the quiet route? The answer, for now, is that the crown adapts—but the spotlight follows, whether you want it or not. For Peter Phillips, the marriage to Harriet Sperling solidifies a chapter defined by personal choice over protocol. The challenge ahead will be balancing the inevitable public interest with the privacy he has long sought.