Peter Phillips’ Wedding Could Quietly Break One of the Royal Family’s Oldest Traditions
Princess Anne’s son, Peter Philips, is preparing for his wedding to Harriet Sperling on June 6.
While royal weddings continue to evolve, certain traditions remain inescapable—especially where tiaras are concerned. As Princess Anne’s son, Peter Phillips, prepares to marry Harriet Sperling on June 6, speculation is mounting over whether the bride will honor one of the monarchy’s oldest customs by wearing a tiara borrowed from her future mother-in-law's personal collection.
Although the wedding is expected to be far more intimate than most royal ceremonies, the occasion still carries massive public intrigue. It’s because of Peter’s place within the royal family. A friend of the couple recently told HELLO! that the ceremony is being planned as an “intimate occasion,” emphasizing the fact that both Peter, aged 48, and Harriet, aged 45, have been married before. Yet, royal fans continue to wonder what traditions Harriet may or may not embrace. It’s particularly because almost all royal brides have historically accessorized their gowns with treasured tiaras from the most known family vault.
One of the most talked-about options is Princess Anne’s Festoon Diamond Tiara. It is an extremely personal piece gifted to the Princess Royal in 1973 by the World Wide Shipping Group of Hong Kong after she christened one of their ships. Anne famously wore it during her engagement photoshoot with Mark Phillips, i.e., Peter’s father, and continued wearing it throughout the years alongside her festoon necklace, gifted by her parents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. However, royal experts believe the tiara may actually be the least likely choice for Harriet because Anne already loaned it to Peter’s first wife, Autumn Kelly, for their wedding in 2008.
Another strong possibility is the Meander Tiara. It’s regarded as one of the royal family’s more sentimental heirlooms, with a long history trailing behind it. After all, it was originally passed down from Princess Alice of Battenberg to then-Princess Elizabeth during her 1947 marriage to Prince Philip. The tiara was later gifted to Princess Anne for her 18th birthday in 1968. Anne has frequently worn the piece over the decades and famously loaned it to her daughter Zara for her 2011 wedding to Mike Tindall. The Pineflower Aquamarine Tiara is also a part of the speculation; however, it has never been worn by a royal bride despite Anne regularly choosing it for major state dinners in recent years.
At the same time, there remains a growing possibility that Harriet could skip the tiara tradition altogether. That is because the precedent for second weddings already exists within the family. One of the most notable examples is when Queen Camilla chose not to wear a tiara during her 2005 civil wedding to then-Prince Charles. Instead, the former opted for a feathered Philip Treacy headpiece, creating a more understated bridal look. Peter and Harriet’s wedding is also expected to reflect a more modern royal atmosphere overall.
Reports also suggest that Prince Harry, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and Sarah Ferguson will not attend. According to a friend quoted by HELLO!, Andrew and Fergie’s absence is intended to avoid “distraction” surrounding their never-ending controversies that is only getting worse, while Harry and Peter have “simply lost touch.” Against such a backdrop, Harriet’s final bridal choice may quietly signal just how traditional or modern this royal wedding truly intends to be.
