Harriet Sperling Opens Up About Princess Anne: ‘Straight-Talking’ Royal Is ‘Really Good Fun’

Harriet Sperling has offered a rare glimpse into her new life as a member of the Royal Family, revealing what she really thinks of her mother-in-law, Princess Anne, and recalling the nerves she felt before their first meeting.

Almost six months after marrying Peter Phillips, the King’s nephew, the 46-year-old former NHS specialist nurse spoke candidly to Hello! magazine about settling into royal family life. Far from finding the experience intimidating, Harriet described Princess Anne as warm, generous and surprisingly entertaining, praising her for being both straightforward and incredibly loyal.

A relaxed first meeting at Gatcombe Park

Although Harriet admitted she felt some initial apprehension about meeting the King’s sister, now 76, she said the encounter was far more relaxed than she had anticipated.

The introduction took place in the garden of Gatcombe Park, Princess Anne’s Gloucestershire home. Rather than a formal occasion, the pair sat on garden benches and enjoyed cups of tea.

“There were always going to be initial nerves about meeting anyone’s family members, but I am quite a calm person,” Harriet recalled.

She described the meeting as pleasant and informal, adding that it “couldn’t have been nicer”. Her impression of Anne has only grown more positive since then, with Harriet calling her “brilliant, really good fun and straight-talking”.

She also praised her mother-in-law’s generosity, particularly her decision to allow the couple to hold their wedding reception at Gatcombe Park, the estate where Peter grew up.

Princess Anne’s work ethic leaves a lasting impression

Beyond their family relationship, Harriet said she deeply admires Anne’s dedication to public service.

She highlighted the Princess Royal’s strong work ethic, describing it as an “amazing example”, and praised the consistent attention she gives to local charities and the causes that genuinely matter to her.

Harriet also revealed that another senior royal has become someone she feels comfortable turning to for guidance: the Princess of Wales.

Since beginning her relationship with Peter in 2024, Harriet has developed a warm connection with William and Catherine. The families happened to spend time on holiday in the Scilly Isles, where they grew closer.

The children also enjoyed time together. Harriet’s 14-year-old daughter, Georgina, joined Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis as they played in the water.

“It was great because the children were all jumping into the water at the same time,” she said.

Harriet described Catherine as “open-hearted” and said she would feel entirely comfortable approaching the future Queen if she ever needed advice or support.

A proposal that took the whole family by surprise

Harriet also shared details of Peter’s proposal, revealing that the engagement came as a complete surprise even to those closest to them.

The couple had known of each other through their daughters and mutual friends before their relationship developed. Peter has two daughters, Savannah, 15, and Isla, 14, with his former wife, Autumn Kelly. Harriet and Peter became friends while watching their children play hockey.

On July 25, 2025, during a beach holiday in southern England amid a heatwave, Peter asked Harriet to marry him. He had secretly arranged a diamond engagement ring from Pragnell, the royal jeweller that also created Queen Elizabeth II’s 1946 engagement ring.

Harriet said nobody in the family knew what Peter had planned. Recalling the moment he got down on one knee, she described herself as “completely overcome”, calling the proposal a “magical moment for both of us”.

She added that it had been “the best-kept secret ever”.

From NHS nurse to royal charity patron

Five months after marrying Peter, Harriet has also embarked on a new chapter in her professional life. She has left the NHS and taken on her first royal patronage, becoming a patron of Home-Start Cotswolds, a charity that supports families with young children in the local community.

Previously specialising in infant mental health, Harriet described the appointment as a “natural step, rather than a complete change of direction”, suggesting that her commitment to supporting families remains central to her work.

The appointment follows one of the couple’s early public appearances as a married pair. In September, they attended a major London art exhibition celebrating traditional Chinese craftsmanship.

A wedding attended by senior members of the Royal Family

Peter and Harriet married on June 6 at All Saints Church in Kemble, Gloucestershire, close to Gatcombe Park. Harriet later described the ceremony as a “slice of heaven”.

The wedding brought together several prominent members of the Royal Family, including King Charles and Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. Their husbands, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Jack Brooksbank, were also among the guests.

Harriet wore a white Emilia Wickstead gown, complemented by the Pragnell family tiara. Her three bridesmaids were her daughter Georgina and Peter’s daughters, Isla and Savannah, who wore matching white dresses by the same designer, finished with floral garlands. The three girls also helped carry her wedding train.

The bride made her first major public appearance as Peter’s wife at Royal Ascot shortly afterwards, joining him in the traditional carriage procession. Sitting alongside Princess Anne, Harriet wore a blue silk Biarritz dress by Suzannah London and cream Jimmy Choo slingback heels.

A sky-blue Anya Hindmarch clutch embroidered with her new initials, HP, offered another subtle reminder of her recent marriage.

Since the wedding, Harriet has gradually stepped into her new public role while maintaining the charitable interests that shaped her career. Her latest interview offers a personal account of the relationships she has formed within the family, from her admiration for Princess Anne to the guidance she believes she can seek from Catherine.

The full interview is available in the latest issue of Hello! magazine.