Peter Phillips was accompanied by his NHS girlfriend, Harriet Sperling, as they attended Royal Ascot for another day amidst scorching 32-degree heat in Britain.
The King was seen with other glamorous members of the Royal Family during Ladies Day at the races in Berkshire. However, the Princess of Wales was notably absent for the second day in a row, having pulled out of yesterday’s events abruptly.
Today’s official procession at the races included an impressive gathering of 10 royal family members, adding a touch of royalty to the already hot day, as the UK faced an amber heat health alert.
King Charles, 76, sat next to Queen Camilla, 77, in the first carriage as it travelled past packed stands to the tune of the national anthem.
And joining them at the races once again today were Peter and Harriet who were seen holding hands in a united display – after being invited to take part in Tuesday’s official carriage procession.
Today, Harriet, 45, looked radiant once again in a gorgeous yellow ensemble, adding a matching fascinator with a bow – in a display fit for royalty.
Peter, 47, who is King Charles’s nephew and the son of Princess Anne, has been dating Harriet for over a year, after breaking up with his previous partner of three-years, Lindsay Wallace.
The duo seemed sweetly loved-up as they held hands, while Peter even matched his tie to the butter yellow shade of Harriet’s dress.
Peter Phillips and his NHS girlfriend Harriet Sperling attended Ascot on Thursday for another day at the races
Ms Sperling was seen in animated conversation with an amused King Charles – who this week appears to have given his royal seal of approval
Following the procession, Harriet was seen in conversation with a very amused King Charles – yet another indication that she’s been granted the royal sign of approval.
In the second carriage today was the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh as well as Princess Anne, 74, and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
Charles’ stylish nieces Zara Tindall, 44, and her husband Mike, 46, as well as Princess Beatrice, the daughter of Prince Andrew, and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi featured in the third and fourth carriage.
Zara herself looked glamorous in a monochrome Laura Green coat dress, which she teamed with an elegant hat.
Meanwhile Princess Beatrice had also opted for bright shades of yellow for Ladies’ Day as she stunned in Monique L’hulier – adding a white floral hat to match.
And Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, opted for Suzannah London, donning a white floaty blouse with a green leaf pattern for the scorching weather.
In a sign of changing times, the Marchioness of Salisbury, who had joined the King in his carriage, was even seen with her phone out, appearing to take pictures to capture the moment as the procession arrives.
The royal procession is celebrating its 200th anniversary, a tradition which began during the reign of George IV in 1825 when the monarch was accompanied by the Duke of Wellington.
His Majesty’s appearance today comes after Princess of Wales sparked concern as she pulled out of attending the festival yesterday, apparently at the last minute.
Harriet, an NHS nurse, even joined the carriage procession on Monday – in what appeared to be a royal seal of approval
Zara Tindall looked glamorous in a monochrome chic outfit – and elegant hat
Princess Beatrice also opted for shades of yellow, adding a glamorous netted fascinator as she rode in the third carriage
King Charles and Queen Camilla once again led the royals arriving at the Berkshire racecourse
Matching! Both Princess Beatrice and Harriet opted for shades of yellow, putting on a bright display for Ladies’ Day
Loved-up: Harriet gave Peter an affectionate glance as they once again went public with their romance
The couple, who have now been dating for more than a year, have put on a loved-up display at this year’s races
Princess Anne and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, joined the royals in the fourth carriage
But royal sources insisted there was nothing to worry about and that it was simply a case of crossed wires.
Aides also stressed that Catherine was continuing to ‘balance her return to public life’ following her cancer diagnosis last year, after which she made clear that she would resume her duties with a slow and measured approach.
The mini-drama came as her husband, Prince William, handed out the prize for the Prince of Wales stakes at the racecourse in Berkshire.
Executives at Ascot had expected the princess to join him, travelling down in the carriage procession from Windsor Castle with King Charles and Queen Camilla.
At 12pm they issued the procession list for the day, featuring the Prince and Princess of Wales in the second carriage after the King and Queen.
But 22 minutes later, guidance was issued which said Catherine would not be attending. It is understood an ‘inaccurate version’ of the list was ‘issued in error’.
An updated list was circulated and Lord Soames – a good friend of the King – lost his seat to make way for William in the first carriage with Charles and Camilla.
Peter, who is the son of Princess Anne, certainly seemed in good spirits as he was joined by his girlfriend
Princess Beatrice, her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Zara and Mike Tindall
A beaming Zara Tindall today, who brought her sunglasses for a day in hot temperatures
Zara and Mike also looked ever the loved-up couple as they arrived at Ascot today arm-in-arm
Zara opted for yet another elegant display in a black and white coat dress and heels
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, was wearing a white floaty blouse with elegant green leaf print
King Charles and Queen Camilla were keen to see another day of action at the races today
King Charles, dressed in a top hat and carrying an umbrella, will no doubt be looking forward to another day at the races
Zara and Mike were seen exchanging a loving glance as they arrived in the royal procession for the first time this year
They were also joined by Saudi’s Prince Saud bin Khalid Al-Saud.
Sources stressed there was ‘no cause for alarm’ and Catherine was following guidance palace aides have always given: that she would ‘balance her return to public duties’, following appearances at Trooping the Colour on Saturday and Monday’s Order of the Garter service.
They added that she was ‘disappointed’ not to attend but ‘has to find the right balance’.
Catherine, 43, had abdominal surgery last January, after which she was told cancer had been present, forcing her to undergo preventive chemotherapy.
At the beginning of this year she revealed she was in remission and would begin a slow and measured return to royal life.
The invitation for Peter and Harriet to join the prestigious procession on Tuesday can be seen as a seal of approval from the King and a very high honour.
According to royal reporter Ian Lloyd, the late Queen Elizabeth didn’t include royal girlfriends in the procession unless they were engaged.
Last year, the couple packed on the PDA before meeting with the King and Queen, embarking on their new romance just weeks after his split from Lindsay.
The smitten pair have since attended an array of high society events together, including Wimbledon and the Badminton Horse Trials – as well as Cheltenham Races in January.
The King and Queen waved to excited onlookers as they led the members of the Firm
According to an online bio, Peter’s girlfriend Harriet lives in Gloucestershire and works as a Paediatric Nurse Specialist for the NHS.
She is ‘passionate about early brain development in babies and seeing children thrive,’ the bio notes.
The pediatric nurse is related to the Duke of Gloucester through her late father, The Telegraph reported previously.
But her curious family ties do not stop there, as the paper also revealed that Harriet’s second cousin once removed is Christopher Courage, 61, a descendant of the Courage Brewery’s founder John Courage.
While no information is available about her ex-husband, Harriet has a daughter, thought to be around the same age as Peter’s girls, Savannah, 14, and Isla, 12, whom he shares with ex-wife, Autumn.
Peter and Autumn ended their 13-year marriage with a divorce in 2020, but continue to co-parent their daughters.
Yesterday, the Princess of Wales’s mother Carole Middleton also attended, alongside her daughter-in-law Alizee Thevenet, the wife of Kate’s brother James Middleton.
The King hosted Lady Sarah Chatto, the daughter of his late aunt Princess Margaret and a favourite of the late Queen.
She was joined on the fourth carriage by her artist husband Daniel Chatto. Also in the procession were the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, who sat in the second carriage.
The royal procession is celebrating its 200th anniversary, a tradition begun in 1825 when George IV was accompanied by the Duke of Wellington.
The King and his wife have continued Queen Elizabeth’s close association with the Berkshire race meet, but they had no luck when their horse Reaching High was beaten in the Ascot Stakes.
The late Queen was a passionate owner of thoroughbreds and had more than 20 Royal Ascot winners during her 70-year reign.
