Ten days after marrying Peter Phillips, Harriet Sperling made her first major public appearance at Royal Ascot—now officially listed and tagged as “Mrs. Peter Phillips,” with her name and initials on display.
When Harriet Sperling walked into Royal Ascot, it wasn’t just the horses that drew attention. Ten days earlier, she had become Peter Phillips’ wife—now the former Harriet Sperling is publicly stepping into a new identity.
At Royal Ascot, the official carriage list for the opening day shows a clear shift: Harriet is listed as “Mrs. Peter Phillips” for the first time since she exchanged vows with Princess Anne’s son on June 6. Observers also confirmed that when she arrived at the annual horse racing event. her Royal Enclosure name tag reflected the same married name.
Her presence at Royal Ascot carried extra meaning for the couple. who treated the day like a real coming-out moment as newlyweds. Harriet joined Peter in the second carriage of the Royal Procession behind King Charles III and Queen Camilla. sharing the ride with her new mother-in-law. the Princess Royal.
The Royal Box brought its own quiet buzz. People reported that Harriet spent time chatting with her new sister-in-law, Zara Tindall, while she and Peter also shared affectionate moments as they watched the races together.
This appearance also marked another milestone in a relationship that moved quickly. Peter and Harriet first stepped out publicly together at the Badminton Horse Trials in May 2024. They announced their engagement in August 2025, then married less than a year later.
The name change wasn’t the only sign of a new chapter. Harriet had subtly celebrated her wedding day with details that followed her into the spotlight—at Royal Ascot she wore a handbag featuring her freshly adopted initials. HP. and she debuted her new gold wedding band alongside her diamond engagement ring.
Their wedding on June 6 took place at an intimate ceremony at All Saints church in Kemble in Gloucestershire’s Cotswolds region. Harriet was attended by the couple’s daughters, who served as bridesmaids, and the bride reportedly wore the Pragnell Tiara. The guest list included senior royal family members such as the king and queen. Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence. Zara and husband Mike Tindall. and Peter’s father. Captain Mark Phillips.
Prince William and Kate Middleton were also there—an obvious contrast to Peter’s first wedding in 2008, when William was absent due to a prior commitment in Kenya and Kate attended on her own.
Still, not everyone made the trip. Princess Beatrice and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi attended, as did Beatrice’s sister, Princess Eugenie, and her husband Jack Brooksbank. Ahead of the wedding, however, Hello!. reported that Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle would not be among the guests. A friend told the outlet. “Peter and Harry haven’t spoken for several years and have simply lost touch. so he hasn’t been invited.”.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson were also absent from the celebration. Hello! reported that, according to the same friend, their presence could have become a “distraction” amid continuing public scrutiny surrounding their ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The friend said Peter and Harriet wanted an “intimate occasion with their close friends and immediate family around them in the Cotswolds,” adding, “It’s an area where they grew up and is very special to them both.”
At Royal Ascot, the newlyweds weren’t the only story in motion. The event also marked Kate Middleton’s return to the races—she attended on June 17 for the first time since 2023 after missing the previous two years during her cancer diagnosis and treatment journey.
Kate arrived alongside William as part of the Royal Procession. wearing a bright yellow Roksanda dress with a matching hat. while William coordinated with a bold yellow flower in his boutonniere. She later spent time with her mother. Carole Middleton. and her sister-in-law. Alizée Thevenet—married to Kate’s brother. James Middleton.
Photographers captured Kate smiling and chatting with both women in the Royal Box, where she also greeted Alizée with a kiss on the cheek.
For Harriet, though, the spotlight in the Royal Enclosure came with a new official label—Mrs. Peter Phillips—now stamped not only into memory, but into the event’s own printed records.
Peter Phillips Harriet Sperling Mrs. Peter Phillips Royal Ascot Princess Anne King Charles III Queen Camilla Zara Tindall Kate Middleton Prince William Pragnell Tiara All Saints church Kemble