A resurfaced remark from Princess Anne is drawing renewed attention following a rare family reunion at the wedding of her son, Peter Phillips, and Harriet Sperling last weekend. The Princess Royal, now 75, was the first of Queen Elizabeth II's children to marry when she wed Captain Mark Phillips in 1973. They went on to have two children, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall.
Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips first met in 1968 at a party for horse enthusiasts in Mexico City, where Mark was a reserve member of the British equestrian team. Amid intense media scrutiny, rumours of infidelity on both sides, and the revelation that Phillips had fathered a child during an extramarital affair, the couple announced their separation in August 1989, and their divorce was finalised in April 1992.
The Six-Word Remark
A moment from the couple's early days may already have hinted at the pressures ahead, with a remark now resurfacing following last weekend's wedding and the rare public appearance of Captain Mark Phillips alongside family members. During their engagement interview, the couple were asked: 'Do you think the marriage can withstand the enormous pressures of public duty and publicity that you have to endure?'
The Captain responded: 'I think we've withstood a great deal already this year' before Anne snapped: 'Can? It's got to, hasn't it?'
Separation and Divorce
In August 1989, the palace issued an official statement announcing the split, but at the time, the statement stated there were no plans for divorce. It 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.'
Rare Appearance at Son's Wedding
Captain Mark Phillips made a rare appearance last weekend for his son's wedding to Harriet Sperling at All Saints Church in Kemble, Gloucestershire. He was accompanied by Florence Standaert, a 44-year-old Belgian equestrian who has been linked to him in recent years, though the pair have not publicly confirmed a relationship.
