King Charles’ nephew, Peter Phillips, is set to walk down the aisle with his fiancée, Harriet Sperling, this weekend.
However, their future marriage has now drawn comparisons to that of Charles and Queen Camilla, particularly over how their blended family may adapt.
Charles’ youngest son, Prince Harry, is expected to miss the wedding amid reports that his relationship with Peter has soured over the years. A royal expert has also suggested that Harry feels “hurt” by the snub and blames his estranged brother, Prince William, for it.
Other royals who will reportedly miss the nuptials include former Prince Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson.
Peter Phillips’ Marriage Draws A Royal Parallel
In the royal family, history has a peculiar way of repeating itself. Ahead of Princess Anne’s son Peter Phillips’ wedding to Harriet Sperling, royal commentators are drawing a striking parallel to that of Charles and Camilla, one of the most scrutinized romances in the modern history of the monarchy.
Like Charles and his wife before their wedding, Peter and Harriet both have children from previous marriages. Peter is father to daughters Isla and Savannah, whom he shares with his ex-wife, Autumn Kelly, while Harriet has a 13-year-old daughter, Georgina Sperling, with her ex-husband, Antonio St. John Sperling.
All three children are said to be getting along well and reportedly even played a role in their parents’ union, as Peter and Harriet are believed to have met at a sporting event attended by the girls.
They also made their first public appearance together on Easter Sunday at St George’s Chapel in Windsor last April.
Why The King Charles Comparison Has Limits
However, according to The Telegraph’s royal editor, Hannah Furness, Peter and Harriet’s blended home is unlikely to mirror Charles and Camilla’s entirely.
Unlike Peter and Autumn’s split, which came with “very little public drama,” Charles’ marriage to Princess Diana was marked by accusations of infidelity involving Camilla and years of public scrutiny.
Furness also pointed out in a newsletter titled “Your Royal Appointment” that William and Harry did not grow up in any meaningful way with Camilla’s children, Laura Lopes and Tom Parker Bowles.
“Where other royal children were too old, or broken marriages too complicated, for them to grow up together, the Phillips-Sperling cohort could be a real blended family,” Furness wrote.
The royal editor added that Princess Anne’s second marriage to Sir Tim Laurence was different, as he “had no children to join the young Peter and Zara.”
Prince Harry And Andrew To Miss Peter’s Big Day
While several members of the royal family are expected to attend the nuptials, Harry, Andrew, and Sarah Ferguson will reportedly be absent after not receiving invitations.
A source claimed that the Duke of Sussex, who was once close to Peter, has grown distant from him since stepping back from royal duties and relocating abroad with his wife, Meghan Markle.
“Peter and Harry haven’t spoken for several years and have simply lost touch, so he hasn’t been invited,” the source said, per Hello! Magazine.
Andrew and Sarah’s omission is reportedly tied to the controversies surrounding their links to convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, which have contributed to their fall from royal life.
“When and whether Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and Sarah Ferguson had been invited, it was probably not deemed appropriate to invite them. It’s Peter and Harriet’s special day, and clearly their attendance would cause a distraction to the whole day,” the insider explained.
Royal Commentator Makes Case For Prince Harry’s Omission
Meanwhile, reports suggest Harry is not pleased about being “snubbed” from Peter’s wedding and blames his brother, William, for the situation.
According to Page Six, royal commentator Emily Nash said that while Peter may have excluded Harry because they have grown apart, the incoming groom remains close to William and is protective of that relationship.
Peter has remained a steady presence within the wider royal family over the years and has often been seen as a calming figure during moments of palace tension.
Nash also suggested that leaving Harry off the guest list could help ensure that Peter and Harriet’s wedding is not overshadowed by wider royal drama.
Prince Harry Reportedly Believes William Influenced The Guest List
As reported by The Blast, Harry allegedly sees William’s close relationship with Peter as a major reason he was left off the guest list, believing the omission may not have happened without outside pressure.
A source alleged that Harry feels William has “pressured Peter to take sides,” especially since he had expected an invitation, given how close he and Peter had once been. The Duke of Sussex reportedly does not fully blame Peter for the situation, as he understands his place within the royal family dynamic and William’s influence in royal matters. However, he is said to have been left “hurt” by the situation.