Captain Mark Phillips made a rare public appearance to support his son Peter at his wedding on Saturday – but he wasn’t alone.
Princess Anne‘s ex-husband, 77, was seen outside All Saints’ Church in Kemble, Cirencester, on Saturday, to celebrate his son’s second marriage to NHS nurse Harriet Sperling.
And, although they weren’t pictured together, he was reportedly joined by his rumoured girlfriend, Florence Standaert, according to society bible Tatler.
Mark and Florence have never confirmed they’re in a relationship, but have been pictured together at high-profile events for several years. Attending a royal wedding together would be their most official outing to date.
Captain Mark was married to Princess Anne from 1973 to 1992, and the former couple shares two children, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall.
They are believed to have remained on good terms and often cross paths at horsing events.
A private relationship
Mark has been linked to Belgian equestrian Florence after they were first spotted at the Burghley Horse Trials in 2022, with sources saying she was his “girlfriend”, according to Tatler.
A former member of the British equestrian team, back in 1972, Mark and his fellow teammates won the gold medal at the Munich Olympic Games.
His reported girlfriend, Florence, is also an experienced equestrian and was previously in a relationship with Thomas Ryckewaert, who ran the Waregem horse trials in Belgium until his passing in 2019.
They could likely have met in 2020 when Mark was tasked with designing a cross-country course at Waregem, which was being run by Florence.
Outside of his marriage to Princess Anne, Captain Mark shares Felicity Tonkin, born August 1985, with New Zealand art teacher Heather Tonkin.
© Getty ImagesHe also has a daughter from his second marriage to Sandy Pflueger, called Stephanie Phillips.
Marriage to Princess Anne
Also present at Saturday’s wedding was the mother of the groom, Princess Anne, accompanied by her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.
© Getty ImagesThe Princess Royal, 75, appeared in bright spirits as she wore a buttery shade of yellow, complete with a matching hat and ribbon.
The couple separated in 1989 after reported affairs on both sides, but did not divorce until a few years later in 1992.
“Her Royal Highness, the Princess Royal, and Capt. Mark Phillips have decided to separate on terms agreed between them. There are no plans for divorce proceedings,” an initial statement from Buckingham Palace read at the time.
Despite their separation, Mark continued living on Anne’s Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire for 21 years.
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