June 2, 2026
Peter Phillips’ Wedding Countdown: Who’s In, Who’s Out, and the Tiara Mystery
As Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling prepare to marry this weekend, new details emerge about the reception at Gatcombe Park, the royal guests expected to attend, and those notably absent. We look at the family connections behind the wedding planning, the surprising role of Peter’s half-sister Stephanie Phillips, and the growing speculation over whether Harriet will wear Princess Anne’s famous Festoon Tiara. Plus, Mike Tindall reveals the affectionate nicknames he and Zara use at home, and King Charles prepares for a busy Saturday that includes both a royal wedding and Derby Day at Epsom.
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Calarogus Shark Media, Hello and welcome to Palace Intrigue and
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host Mark Francis. This week's big story will be Saturday's
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wedding of Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling. According to reports,
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guests attending the June sixth wedding will gather afterward at
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Gatcombe Park, the Gloucestershire estate owned by Princess Anne and
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Sir Timothy Lawrence. The venue has a special connection to
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the groom. Peter, the eldest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth, spent
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much of his childhood at Gatcombe Park and remains closely
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associated with the estate. The reception is reportedly being organized
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by Peregreene Armstrong Jones, founder of Bentley's Entertainment, a figure
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with long standing ties to both the royal family and
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the couple. Armstrong Jones is the half brother of Anthony
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Armstrong Jones, the late Earl of Snowden and former husband
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of Princess Margaret. His connection to Peter Phillips stretches decades.
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According to reports, he organized Peter's twenty first birthday celebration
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of Windsor Castle and has overseen several other royal events
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over the years. His previous work includes Princess Anne's celebrations
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and the twenty eleven wedding of Zara and Mike Tyndall.
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Outside royal circles. Armstrong Jones has also organized events for
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high profile clients including David and Victoria Beckham, actor Hugh Grant.
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Peter and Harriet are due to Marriott All Saints Church
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in Campbell. The church is located close to the Bryan's
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childhood home in Gloucestershire, adding another personal element to what
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is expected to be a relatively private family occasion. Reports
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have also suggested that several notable royal figures will not
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be attending. A friend of the couple told Hello when
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and whether Andrew Mountbatten, Windsor and Sarah Ferguson have been invited,
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it was probably not deemed appropriate to invite them. It's
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Peter and Harriet's special day and clearly their attendants would
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cause a distraction to the whole day. The source also
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addressed Prince Harry's absence, saying Peter and Harry haven't spoken
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for several years and have simply lost touch, so he
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hasn't been invited. A lesser known member of Princess Anne's
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extended family could be among the guests. Peter's half sister,
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Stephanie Phillips. Stephanie, now twenty eight, is the daughter of
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Captain Mark Phillips and his second wife, Sandy Fluger. While
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Princess Anne and Captain Mark divorced in nineteen ninety two,
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the family has remained close over the years, and Stephanie
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grew up alongside Peter and Zara Tyndall on the gat
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Kermit State. Despite the age difference between them, Stephanie has
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maintained a close relationship with both of her older half siblings.
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She served as a flower girl at Peter's wedding to
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Autumn Kelly in two thousand and eight and again at
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Zara's waiting to Mike Tindall in twenty eleven. On social media,
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she once described Peter as the best big brother out there.
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Like Zara, Stephanie has developed a strong interest in horses
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and equestrian sport. After attending Dean Close School in Cheltenham,
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she studied business management at the University of Worcester before
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pursuing a career in eventing. She has completed a number
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of high profile a questrian events and remains active within
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the sport. Princess Anne may have one small but intriguing
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decision to make. Ahead of her son's wedding this weekend,
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Royal watchers have begun speculating about one detail that often
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attracts considerable attention at royal weddings, the tiara. Unlike many
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royal brides, Harriet will not acquire a royal title through marriage.
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Peter Phillips, despite being the oldest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth,
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was not given a title of birth after Princess Anne
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and Captain Mark Phillips declaimed the offer. Harriet also does
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not come from an aristocratic family background. That raises the
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question of whether she will wear a tiara at all.
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There is precedent suggesting she might. When Peter married Autumn
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Kelly in two thousand and eight, Autumn wore Princess Anne's
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festoon tiara, an elegant diamond piece that Anne received as
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a gift in nineteen seventy three. At the time, Autumn,
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like Harriet, today, was a commoner marrying into the royal
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family without receiving a title. The festoon tiara has become
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one of the most closely associated pieces in Anne's personal collection.
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It was originally presented to the Prince Royal by the
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Worldwide Shipping Group, and has since appeared on several important
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family occasions. There was also the example of Peter's sister,
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Zara Tindall. When Zara married Mike in twenty eleven, she
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wore Princess Andrew's Meander tiara, a historic piece loaned to
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her from the Royal collection. Zara, like Peter, holds no
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royal title. The Princess of Wales Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie
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or wal Tiera's from the Royal Vault on their wedding days,
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although their circumstances were somewhat different. Princess Anne herself wore
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Queen Mary's fringe tiara when she married Captain Mark Phillips
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in seventy three. The tiara has been loaned to her
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by her grandmother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. However, when
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Anne married Sir Timothy Lawrence in ninety two, she chose
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a much simpler approach and wore flowers in her hair
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rather than a tiara. If Harriet does wear a tiara,
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many observers believe the most likely choice would be Princess
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Anne's festoon Tiara, given its connection to Peter's first wedding
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and its place within Anne's personal collection, has shared a
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rare glimpse into life at home with Zara, revealing the
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affection that nicknames the couples used for one another behind
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closed doors. When asked whether the couple had pet names
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for each other, Mike revealed, if it's nicknames, it's Ze
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and mikey t he told Woman at Home. Michae also
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revealed that he and Zara sometimes call each other munchkin,
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what palas it just a moment. King Charles and Queen
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Cammella will continue Royal tradition stretching back generations when they
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attend Derby Day at epsom Downs on Saturday. The Jockey
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Club has confirmed that their majesties will be present for
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the Betfred Derby on June sixth, one of the most
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prestigious races in world horse racing and an event closely
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associated with the royal family. The appearance comes just days
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before Royal Ascot and highlights the King's continuing enthusiasm of
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a racing, a passion inherited from his late mother, Queen
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Elizabeth Second. The Derby held a special place in the
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late Queen's heart. Despite winning every other British classic as
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a racehorse owner, the Derby was one major prides that
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eluded her. Her closest attempt came in nineteen fifty three,
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the year of her coronation, when her horse Oriole finished second.
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Royal attendance at EPSOM had long been one of the
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highlights of the racing calendar. Queen Elizabeth attended regularly throughout
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her reign, missing Derby Day only twice before the pandemic era,
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once during a state visit to Sweden in nineteen fifty
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six and again in nineteen eighty four while attending d
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DA commemorations in France. King Charles and Queen Camilla became
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joint patrons of the Jockey Club in twenty twenty four,
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succeed in Queen Elizabeth, who served as patron for sixty
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eight years. Both are also honorary members of the organization.
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EPSOM Downs. General manager Jim Allen welcome the news, saying
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we are honored and thrilled that the King and Queen
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will be joining us at EPSOM Downs on Derby Day.
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Their majesties show great enthusiasm, interest and support for horse
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racing in the UK and their attendance next week will
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be a proud moment for all of the team here
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and everyone connected with the racecourse. Darby Day provides joy
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and entertainment to millions of people around the world as
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one of Britain's most famous and iconic events, and royal
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attendance has been synonymous with the meeting for generations. We
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are delighted that their majesties will be continuing this tradition
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next week. The King and Queen have already enjoyed success
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as racehorse owners. Their horse, Desert Hero, famously won at
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Royal Ascot in twenty three, giving the Royal Couple one
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of the most memorable victories of Charles' reign so far.
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Attention will now turn to Epsom, where the Royal Couple
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will join racing fans from around the world for the
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two hundred and forty seventh running of Britain's most famous
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flat race. Royal Inside of Deep Crown observes it's worth
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noting that the Darby Day this year falls on the
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same Saturday as the wedding of Peter Phillips and Harriet
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Spurling in Gloucestershire. The King and Queen are expected at
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both the church in Kempbell by noon Epsom by three thirty.
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The monarchy that its least complicated is simply a family
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with a very full diary. And there you have it.
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All this month we're encouraging listeners of Pallace Intrigue to
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help spread the word. If you enjoy the show, tell
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someone who loves following the royal family. It's easy to do,
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can leave a comment for us on Spotify by Mark
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Francis My thanks to John McDermott. This is Palace Intriguing.
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Good terms.
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00:07:30.160 --> 00:07:33.720
134
00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:35.800
135
00:07:35.800 --> 00:07:38.160
136
00:07:38.199 --> 00:07:41.519
137
00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:45.519
138
00:07:45.680 --> 00:07:49.439
139
00:07:49.480 --> 00:07:52.240
140
00:07:52.639 --> 00:07:55.040
141
00:07:55.120 --> 00:07:57.680
142
00:07:57.720 --> 00:08:00.199
143
00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:02.800
144
00:08:02.920 --> 00:08:05.560
145
00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:08.759
146
00:08:08.920 --> 00:08:11.680
147
00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:13.759
148
00:08:13.759 --> 00:08:17.879
149
00:08:17.920 --> 00:08:20.480
150
00:08:20.800 --> 00:08:21.439
