Captain Mark Phillips was married to Princess Anne from 1973 to 1992 and the former couple share Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall

© James Whatling

Captain Mark Phillips, the father of groom Peter Phillips, has made sure to be present for his son’s special day.

The former Olympian, 77, was seen outside All Saints’ Church in Kemble, Cirencester, on Saturday, to watch his son wed Harriet Sperling in a stunning ceremony.

Captain Mark, who was married to Princess Anne from 1973 to 1992, was seen sheltering from the rain under an umbrella, with his glasses and a blue tie around his neck.

It means Princess Anne will have had a rare reunion with her ex-husband, with whom she shares Peter, 48, and daughter Zara Tindall, 45.

The Princess Royal, 75, was wearing vintage yellow and radiated joy despite the rainy conditions, wearing a beaming smile on her face.

She layered her sunny yellow jacket over a red floral-print dress.

© Getty Images
Princess Anne wore sunny yellow for her son’s nuptials

Captain Mark’s split from Princess Anne

Captain Mark and Princess Anne separated in 1989 after reported affairs on both sides.

After spending their 15th wedding anniversary apart, Buckingham Palace confirmed their separation with a statement in 1989 that read: “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.”

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Princess Anne and Captain Mark on their wedding day in 1973

However, they divorced three years later in 1992. Anne married Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence that same year, eloping for a private wedding in Scotland, as the Church of England did not allow divorcees to remarry until 2002.

Despite this, Mark Phillips remained living at her royal estate, Gatcombe Park, for 21 years afterwards, before finally moving out.

He resided on Aston Farm on the estate, while Anne and Sir Timothy stayed in the main house.

Moving on

Their split followed years of rumours of marital strife, fuelled by the amount of time they spent apart while Anne completed her royal engagements.

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Zara Tindall was also present at the wedding

It was also confirmed in 1991 that Captain Phillips had fathered a daughter, Felicity Tonkin, born in August 1985 in New Zealand to art teacher Heather Tonkin, while he was still married to Anne.

He also has another daughter, Stephanie Phillips, from his second marriage to Sandy Pflueger, to whom he was married from 1997 until 2012.

In the past few years, Mark has been linked to Belgian equestrian Florence Standaert, after they were spotted at Badminton Horse Trials in 2022, but they have never confirmed a relationship.

Congratulations!

Harriet Sperling, who will now be known as Mrs Phillips, wore a dress designed by Emilia Wickstead, earrings by Pragnell and the Pragnell family tiara, with shoes by Jimmy Choo.

© Samir Hussein/WireImage
Harriet and Peter were joined by their families for their big day

Her bridal bouquet, created by florist Millie Richardson, included sweet peas, myrtle – a tradition in Ms Sperling’s family and for the royal family – and lily of the valley.

She was walked down the aisle by her brother Nicholas Sanders, in honour of their late father Rupert Sanders. Her mother, Mary, was at the church, along with her sisters Rebecca and Louisa.

The King and Queen were cheered as they arrived at All Saints Church, alongside the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh with their son James, Earl of Wessex.

Also in the congregation were the groom’s cousins Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, accompanied by their husbands Jack Brooksbank and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were not in attendance.

SOURCE: https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/905913/mark-phillips-rare-public-appearance-son-peter-wedding/