Former NHS nurse Harriet Phillips has spoken candidly about her fairytale wedding day for the first time, recalling her marriage to Princess Anne's son Peter earlier this year. After two years of dating, the couple married in June at All Saints' Church in Kemble, Cirencester, in a ceremony attended by much of the Royal Family.
A 'Pinch-Me Moment' with the King and Queen
Five months on, Harriet has revealed details about the whirlwind day, including seeing the King and Queen at her wedding and the reception party at Gatcombe. She told Hello! Magazine: "Their Majesties were there, which was a bit of a pinch-me moment, but just incredible. I can't really put it into words. It was just so special. I was close to crying but I held it together."
She added: "There's nothing like a wedding day, because everyone's there for you and you're there for love. It was the happiest day of my life, apart from when my daughter was born." Reflecting on the day, she said: "It's emotional looking back at it. When you're in it, it feels like you're in a dream, and when you look back, you think: 'Was that really me?' It was a slice of heaven."
From Balmoral to Gatcombe
Harriet had been welcomed into the Royal Family by the King and Queen after meeting them at Royal Ascot and spending a summer at Balmoral. For the ceremony, she wore a custom Emilia Wickstead wedding dress with a tiara from Pragnell.
After the ceremony, the wedding party moved to Princess Anne's estate of Gatcombe for the reception. Harriet said that after a dreary wedding morning, the sun came out for their garden party as they served champagne and danced the night away on the estate where the groom grew up.
A 'Perfect Family Day'
Harriet opted not to give a speech at the reception, but said Peter did, as he is "much better at that than me". She said there was lots of laughter and it was a 'perfect family day', which drew to a close at midnight, despite some wanting to keep the party going.
Harriet described Peter as her best friend and said the most romantic thing he had ever done was ask her to marry him, when he popped the question during a weekend away in the south of England. The news comes as Harriet takes her first patronage after leaving her role as a nurse, becoming patron of Home-Start Cotswolds, which provides support, friendship and practical help for families with young children in the Cotswolds area.
