everything you need to know from special guests, fairytale venue and royal snubs

Peter and Harriet, who have been together for two years, will be bringing together their loved ones – most of all, the daughters with whom they will form a new blended family. Peter has two girls with his former wife, Autumn Kelly, while Harriet is a mother to a teenage daughter. 

With the final countdown now on, here is everything you need to know about the royal wedding of the year.

A – Announcement

Eight months after Peter and Harriet’s engagement was announced, an official statement confirming the couple’s wedding date was released in April. 

“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 announced their wedding date,” a spokesperson said. 

“The summer wedding will take place at All Saints Church, Kemble, Cirencester on Saturday 6 June 2026 in a private ceremony. Both families have been informed jointly of the wedding date by invitation.”

The King and Queen, and the Prince and Princess of Wales, were among those informed.

B – Bride

Born Harriet Eleanor Sander in 1980, Harriet is the latest bride-to-be to marry into the royal family. An NHS paediatric nurse specialist and a single mother to a teenage daughter, Georgina, Harriet was thrust into the spotlight in May 2024 when she made her public debut with Peter, who is 19th in line to the throne, the King’s eldest nephew and the only son of Princess Anne.

Harriet was raised in a six-bedroom Edwardian home in the village of South Cerney in Gloucestershire. She is the third of four children born to Rupert Sanders and Mary Hoskins. Rupert was a prominent solicitor, while Harriet’s paternal grandfather, Major Geoffrey Sanders, was a D-Day veteran, the high sheriff of Gloucestershire and the editor of the Stroud News and Journal.  

A devout Christian, like her parents, Harriet grew up spending a lot of time in the family’s local church, All Hallows. Her late father was a long-standing church warden and her mother serves in the ministry team.

Harriet attended Cheltenham’s Dean Close School, a Christian boarding and day school, before going on to train as a nurse in London.

Writing for the Christian magazine Woman Alive, Harriet – who was previously married to the fitness instructor Antonio St John Sperling, the father of her child – said: “My faith was always in me, though it was kind of dormant. But the end of a seven-year relationship was the turning point for me. I went to church because I felt there was something missing in my life.

“In the earlier years of my journey as a single mother to my daughter, resources were scarce and the future was uncertain. Yet, in the absence of material security, I discovered the strength and life that comes from true selfless love – a love that is able to be solely devoted to your child.”

C – Church

Given Harriet’s religious upbringing and steady faith, and the tradition that royal weddings take place in churches, it’s no surprise that the bride and groom have opted for a religious ceremony at All Saints Church in Kemble, close to where Harriet grew up.

Given that the pair are both divorced – Peter was married to Autumn Kelly, the mother of his two daughters, for 13 years – they had to seek special permission from the vicar to marry.  

D – Daughters

Peter and Harriet met at a sports event involving their children: Peter’s two daughters are Savannah, 15, and Isla, 14, while Harriet is the proud mother of Georgina, 13. 

The three girls – who made a joint appearance at the royal family’s Easter celebrations in Windsor in April – are expected to play a special role on their parents’ big day, perhaps as bridesmaids.

From the beginning, Harriet has displayed a natural maternal touch with her future stepdaughters. In the early days of her relationship with Peter, she was pictured consoling Savannah during a trip to the Gloucestershire Festival of Polo.

A source told HELLO!: “At one point, Savannah seemed a bit upset, and Harriet was putting her arm around her and comforting her. They’re a tight unit, [they’ve become one] very quickly; they seem to be a bit of a family. Harriet seems very motherly and good with the kids.” 

E – Engagement

Fifteen months after making their debut as a couple, Peter and Harriet announced their engagement in August 2025. The couple posed in a field, with Harriet looking radiant in a white summer dress and wearing a diamond ring.

A statement confirmed the engagement, adding that both families had been “informed jointly of the announcement and were delighted by the wonderful news”. The statement also said: “Their Majesties the King and Queen, and the Prince and Princess of Wales, have been informed of the announcement. No date has been officially set for the wedding.”

F – First public appearance

Peter and Harriet went public with their romance in May 2024, when they cheered on the royal’s sister, the noted equestrian Zara Tindall, at the Badminton Horse Trials. The pair appeared in high spirits as they strolled hand in hand. At the time, a friend of Peter’s said that he had met someone “recently” and that they were “spending time together”, but that it was too early to be anything more at that stage.

However, their relationship quickly blossomed; the following month, Harriet made her debut at Royal Ascot, where she was pictured chatting to the King and Queen in the Royal Enclosure. A string of high-profile appearances followed that summer, including visits to Wimbledon, charity polo matches, the Burghley Horse Trials and even Tom Parker Bowles’s cookbook launch, where Harriet was once again seen laughing with the Queen.  

G – Gloucestershire

Peter and Harriet both have strong ties to Gloucestershire, so it’s no wonder that they are marrying in Cirencester, a quaint market town close to where the bride is from. 

After attending boarding school in Scotland and university in Exeter, Peter put down roots in the county: both of his daughters were born at the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and raised on Princess Anne’s extensive Grade II*-listed Gatcombe Park estate.

After Peter split from his first wife, Autumn, he continued to live on the country estate to co-parent their children. Peter’s sister, Zara, also lives at Gatcombe Park, in a Grade II-listed farmhouse, Aston Farm.

H – Harry and Meghan

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are notable absentees from the wedding guest list, with hello! exclusively revealing in May that Harry and Meghan had not made the cut. A friend of the groom told us: “Peter and Harry haven’t spoken for several years and have simply lost touch, so he hasn’t been invited.”

Before drifting apart, the cousins were close in their younger years. Harry attended Peter’s first wedding in 2008, while Peter was present at Harry and Meghan’s nuptials in 2018.

I – Invitations

In keeping with tradition, Peter and Harriet sent out their wedding invitations two months before the big day, around the same time that they announced the venue and date. 

Given the high-profile nature of the nuptials, it’s likely that well-wishers will descend on the small village of Kemble to catch a glimpse of the bride and the royal party.

J – June

Like many couples hoping for good weather, Peter and Harriet have chosen to marry in June in a glorious summer wedding. 

June is a typically busy month in the royal calendar: the week after the wedding, the King and senior members of his family will be out in force for Trooping the Colour, while the second half of the month includes Royal Ascot, the Garter Day service in Windsor and the start of Wimbledon.

K – King and Queen

The groom’s uncle, the King, will lead the royal guests, alongside the Queen. Other senior royals who are expected to attend include Peter’s first cousin Prince William, his wife, Kate, and their three young children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.

Non-working royals who are believed to be attending include Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, who is expecting her third child this summer. The York sisters have kept a relatively low profile since the arrest of their father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, in February and were notably absent from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May.

L – Love story

From hand-holding to public kisses, Peter and Harriet’s love for and devotion to one another has always been evident. 

Speculation that an engagement was on the cards mounted in June 2025, when Harriet was invited to ride in the carriage procession at Royal Ascot. A couple of months earlier, she and Peter had taken their daughters on a joint holiday to the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix, where they met up with the Tindalls, plus Beatrice and Eugenie. By August that year, they were engaged. 

M – Mother of the groom

Harriet has always looked at ease with Peter’s famous family, including his mother, Princess Anne. Whether greeting each other with a kiss at Royal Ascot or chatting at an equestrian-related family gathering, the two women appear to have a friendly and warm rapport.

N – NHS nurse

As well as being a single mother, Harriet works as a paediatric nurse specialist. She trained at St Mary’s University in London and previously worked at Evelina London Children’s Hospital.

Coincidentally, the Princess of Wales has longstanding ties with Evelina London, having been its patron since 2018. Kate penned a message on its 20th anniversary last year, writing: “It is a place that symbolises love, healing and hope, and has had such an impact on countless lives.” 

She added: “As I know from my visits, the building’s bright, welcoming spaces and wonderful light-filled atrium ensure that children feel safe, supported and nurtured as they face whatever challenges lie ahead.

“What makes this building so special is the remarkable staff, whose compassion and expertise shine through in every corner of the hospital and create an environment where families feel cared for and uplifted.”

O – Order of the day

The big day is set for Saturday 6 June, although the details remain top secret. 

Royal guests are due to arrive on the morning of the wedding, if not the night before, and onlookers are likely to gather outside the All Saints Church to catch a glimpse of the guests. The church ceremony is expected to last for an hour, before the party departs for the reception.

P – Peter Phillips

Although he is the eldest grandson of the late Queen and Prince Philip, and the elder child of Princess Anne and her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips, Peter holds no royal title and is not a senior member of the Firm. His mother declined HRH status for both of her children when they were born.

Peter followed in royal tradition, however, by boarding at Gordonstoun School in Scotland, which was also attended by the King and Prince Philip; Peter was named head boy. He went on to study sports science at the University of Exeter before holding jobs at Jaguar Racing and the Royal Bank of Scotland.

He organised the Patron’s Lunch for the Queen’s 90th birthday, including a parade down The Mall and a hamper picnic for 10,000 guests. 

Peter is said to have been the favourite grandson of the late Duke of Edinburgh, who nicknamed him “the winner” for his sense of ease, his dependability, his politeness and his ability to remain calm and collected.

He was the first of the Queen and Prince Philip’s grandchildren to marry and the first to give the couple a great-grandchild, with the birth of Savannah in 2010. He later followed in his mother’s footsteps as the first of his generation to divorce. 

As the eldest among his royal cousins, Peter is naturally protective and forged a close bond with Prince William, who is five years his junior, from a young age. Reminiscing about growing up with the extended royal family – “the gang”, as Peter once described them on Good Morning Britain – was “a lot of fun; we caused quite a bit of mayhem and chaos, but fortunately, I don’t think we broke too much”. 

HELLO!‘s royal editor, Emily Nash, notes that Peter will remain a “great support” to William when the time comes for his cousin to be King. “He is uniquely placed in that he understands how the royal family and the institution work, but he doesn’t have the titles and responsibilities himself. He has a pragmatic, common-sense approach to things and can be a trusted sounding-board for the future King.” 

Q – Question

Although details of Peter’s proposal in 2025 remain private, to outsiders and royal-watchers, it was always a question of when – not if – Peter would pop the question to his girlfriend. 

The royal photographer James Whatling, who has photographed the couple many times, told hello! shortly after their engagement was announced: “We were waiting for this news. You can’t watch this couple for too long without noticing how close they are. They’re so tactile and they’re clearly so in love. It was only a matter of time.” 

HELLO!‘s Royal Editor Emily Nash said last year: “This is wonderful news for Peter and Harriet, but also for the wider royal family. Peter is close to the King and to his cousins and Harriet seems to have been warmly welcomed into the fold.

“The signs that this was serious have been there for some time, and seeing Harriet taking part in the royal procession at Royal Ascot convinced many royal-watchers that an engagement was on the cards.”

R – Rings

Harriet proudly wore a beautiful trilogy-style diamond ring in the couple’s official engagement photos last summer, when she was pictured resting her left hand on her husband-to-be’s chest. Peter chose the exquisite piece from Pragnell, a jeweller in Mayfair that has long been commissioned by the royal family.

As for her wedding band, Harriet is likely to follow the tradition of many royal brides, including the Princess of Wales, by wearing a ring made using rare Welsh gold from the Clogau St David’s mine – a custom that dates back to the late Queen Mother.

“The symbolism of Welsh gold within the royal family is a subtle nod to the proud and noble heritage of Wales, and highlights how important the country is to them,” Clogau’s managing director, Ben Roberts, previously told hello!.

“Welsh gold is possibly the rarest in the world. Each wedding band worn by members of the royal family is unique, and personally customised to act as a beautiful reminder of their big day.”

S – Style

Harriet has showcased impeccable style from day one of her public appearances. Flowing summer dresses, cropped jeans, crossbody bags and stylish sunglasses make up her off-duty boho-chic style.

But for more formal occasions, Harriet fits in seamlessly with the royal fold, donning soft tailoring, feminine silhouettes, elegant tea dresses and traditional millinery: in short, understated luxury.

T – Title

Although Peter’s royal cousins grew up with official HRH titles and statuses, the groom-to-be and his younger sister, Zara, navigated life as private citizens. It was the decision of their mother not to grant her offspring titles after the late Queen offered them when the children were born. 

Anne has stood by her decision, saying in 2020: “I think most people would argue that there are downsides to having titles… so I think that was probably the right thing to do.” 

Zara, an Olympic medal-winning equestrian, has said she sees the benefits of not having a title, namely in being allowed more freedom to pursue a career she loves. 

Peter’s new marital status will not change his current situation, and Harriet will not receive a title.

U – Ushers

Peter will call upon his closest male friends to act as ushers at his wedding. It’s not yet known whom he has chosen, but the ushers will be on hand to help with duties on the day, such as showing guests to their seats.

V – Vows

Given how traditional Peter and Harriet are, and in light of the church setting of their wedding, the couple are likely to exchange classic vows, no doubt reflecting their profound love for each other.

W – Wedding dress

The bride’s wedding dress will naturally remain a secret until the big day, although it’s likely that Harriet will choose to champion a British designer, possibly even one local to Gloucestershire. She has often flown the flag for British labels such as Beulah London, Me+Em and Suzannah London. 

Harriet may also change into a second wedding outfit for her first dance and reception – a popular move among modern royal brides.

X – Exes

Not much is known about Harriet’s first husband, the fitness instructor Antonio St John Sperling; the couple split when Georgina was a toddler. In an article for Woman Alive, Harriet wrote: “My daughter and I journeyed ten years with only each other. I liken us to an island and it has often felt hard to imagine anyone joining that island. 

“But of course beauty comes from relationships; relationships with our maker and relationships with each other. It is often tough parenting alone, but although there is a stigma to endure, God is able to step in and turn it for good.”

Peter, meanwhile, was married to Autumn Kelly for 13 years. The couple separated in 2019 and divorced in 2021, with a spokesperson saying at the time that “the financial aspects of their divorce have been resolved through agreement”, adding: “Although this is a sad day for Peter and Autumn, they continue to put the wellbeing and upbringing of their wonderful daughters Savannah and Isla first and foremost.” 

Y – York family

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are expected to attend the royal wedding, but their disgraced parents – Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, and Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York – will not be present. The former couple have been beset by scandal since revelations about their relationship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

“Peter and Harriet’s wedding is an intimate occasion with their close friends and immediate family around them in the Cotswolds. It’s an area where they grew up and is very special to them both,” a friend of the couple exclusively told hello!.

“It was probably not deemed appropriate to invite them. It’s Peter and Harriet’s special day, and clearly their attendance would cause a distraction from the whole day.”

Z  – Zara Tindall

Peter is extremely close to his sister, Zara, his brother-in-law, the former England rugby star Mike Tindall, and the couple’s three children: Mia, 12, Lena, seven, and Lucas, five. Zara, who served as a bridesmaid at Peter’s first wedding, may play a special role on the big day, such as giving a reading, while her children may form part of the young bridal party.

The pair have spoken fondly of each other in public, with Peter saying that his “annoying” little sister was always “at the centre of anything that was happening that was fun and boisterous”. He added: “She tried to boss me around and tell me what to do.”

Zara has said of her brother: “Pete is someone I’ve looked up to all my life. When I was growing up, he was a great person to have around; he was very level-headed, very calm, considered and grounded. He’ll be there no matter what I need.”

The siblings are often spotted on family days out in Gloucestershire with their children and their mother, Princess Anne.