On a rainy Saturday in Gloucestershire, an NHS nurse walked down the aisle of All Saints Church in Kemble to marry the King's nephew, becoming the newest member of the Royal Family. Harriet Sperling, 45, a paediatric nurse specialist and single mother, married Peter Phillips, 48, the son of Princess Anne, in a private ceremony attended by King Charles, Queen Camilla, and the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The wedding, which took place on 27 September 2025, was announced two years after the couple began dating. Their engagement was made public in August 2025, with a statement from the couple confirming that the Royal Family were "delighted with the wonderful news." The couple first met at a sporting event attended by their daughters from previous relationships, according to Hello! magazine. Sperling has a teenage daughter, Georgina, who accompanied her into the church, while Phillips has two teenage daughters, Savannah and Isla, from his previous marriage to Autumn Phillips.
“Who is the NHS nurse who married into the Royal Family?”
Sperling is not a typical royal bride. She has worked as a paediatric nurse specialist for the NHS and wrote a parenting column for the Christian magazine Woman Alive under her maiden name, Harriet Sanders. In her column, she described herself as a Christian and wrote about her experiences as a single mother, saying: "I liken us to an island and it has often felt hard to imagine anyone joining that island." Her biography on the magazine's website describes her as "passionate about early brain development in babies and seeing children thrive."
For UK readers, Sperling's wedding is a reminder of the evolving nature of the Royal Family. She is an NHS professional—a role often celebrated in British public life—and a single mother who has written openly about her faith and parenting. Her marriage to Phillips, who is 17th in line to the throne but carries out no official royal duties, adds a relatable, modern chapter to the royal narrative. The couple have attended Royal Ascot and Prince William's polo matches in recent months, signalling their place within the family's social circle.
Q: How did Harriet Sperling meet Peter Phillips? They met at a sporting event attended by their daughters from previous relationships. They began dating in 2024 and were spotted together at social events, including Wimbledon and Royal Ascot, before their engagement.
Q: What is Harriet Sperling's job? She is a paediatric nurse specialist for the NHS. She also writes freelance articles on parenting and early brain development, and has contributed to the Christian magazine Woman Alive.
Q: Who attended the wedding? The ceremony was private but was attended by King Charles, Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and other senior royals including Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
Following the wedding, Harriet Sperling will be known as Mrs Phillips. The couple are expected to continue their lives in Gloucestershire, balancing their roles as parents and royal relations. Sperling's new position within the Royal Family is likely to draw continued media interest, but as a private citizen who has married into the family, she is not expected to undertake official royal duties.