Prince Harry and Peter Phillips’ broken bond – weeks before King’s nephew ties the knot

Prince Harry is not expected to be in attendance at his cousin Peter Phillips’ wedding to NHS paediatric nurse Harriet Sperling next mont

he Princess Royal’s son Peter Phillips will soon be saying “I do” to his fiancée, NHS paediatric nurse Harriet Sperling – but one of Peter’s royal cousins is not expected to be in attendance at the couple’s wedding. Despite growing up together, Peter, 48, has apparently not included Prince Harry, 41, who was at his first wedding to ex-wife Autumn Phillips in 2008, on the guest list for the approaching 6 June ceremony.

A friend close to the couple recently told HELLO! exclusively: “Peter and Harry haven’t spoken for several years and have simply lost touch, so he hasn’t been invited.” Peter Phillips’ spokesman was approached for comment but declined to comment. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, will also be absent from the wedding amid their ongoing controversy.

“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,” the friend told HELLO!.

Childhood ‘fun’

Princes William and Harry with their cousins Peter and Zara Phillips in 2005© AFP via Getty Images
Princes William and Harry with their cousins Peter and Zara Phillips in 2005

Peter and his younger sister Zara Tindall, 45, who are the children of Princess Anne and her first husband, Mark Phillips, grew up together in the Cotswolds at the Princess Royal’s private country residence, Gatcombe Park. Peter previously opened up about his childhood in the royal family, with visits to Sandringham, Balmoral and Windsor, and spoke about spending time with his younger cousins, Princes Harry and William, who were of a similar age growing up.

“We had a lot of fun and there was a lot of space for kids to run around in, and it wasn’t just us – it was the Waleses (William and Harry), Freddie and Ella Windsor (Prince and Princess Michael of Kent’s children), and the Gloucesters (Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster, Lady Davina Lewis and Lady Rose Gilman, the children of the Queen’s cousin, Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester),” Peter said during an appearance on Good Morning Britain in 2016.

“So there was quite a gang of us growing up in that age, and it was a lot of fun. We caused quite a bit of mayhem and chaos, but fortunately, I don’t think we broke too much!”

Friendly appearances

Prince Harry greets Peter Phillips at the Track Cycling at the London 2012 Olympic Games © Getty Images
Prince Harry greets Peter Phillips at the Track Cycling at the London 2012 Olympic Games

The cousins have reunited for many public appearances over the years – including an outing at the 2012 London Olympics. Harry and Peter animatedly cheered on Team GB during the track cycling event, sharing a friendly hug in greeting and sitting beside each other for the day.

The cousins once again put on a friendly display in 2019 at the London Marathon. Harry and Peter were pictured sharing a hug and laughing as they went to congratulate and cheer on the runners.

Following Harry and Meghan’s exit from the royal family in 2020 and their move to the US, the cousins reunited in April 2021 for the funeral of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, which was held at Windsor Castle. They were similarly present for their grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral in September 2022.

Peter has established a close bond with his cousin, Prince William, and his wife Kate, telling Sky News Australia in a rare 2024 interview: “She’s remarkable in herself… Her and William make a fantastic team together [sic].”

Peter Phillips and Prince Harry hug at the Gigaset Charity Polo Match in 2015© Getty Images
Peter Phillips and Prince Harry hug at the Gigaset Charity Polo Match in 2015

Peter was at Harry’s wedding

A decade after Harry supported Peter at his 2008 wedding, Peter returned the favour as a guest at Harry’s star-studded 2018 nuptials to Meghan Markle. Peter attended the ceremony at St George’s Chapel in Windsor on 19 May alongside his first wife, Autumn Phillips, as well as the reception at Windsor Castle.

Harry was also previously a guest at his cousin Zara’s 2011 wedding to former England rugby captain Mike Tindall, in Edinburgh.