Why Peter Phillips' 2008 Wedding Photos Caused Major Drama for the Royal Family

Janine HenniFri, April 10, 2026 at 6:51 PM UTC

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Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly leave in an open carriage following their wedding at St. George's Chapel on May 17, 2008 in Windsor, EnglandCredit: Anwar Hussein/Getty -

Peter Phillips will marry Harriet Sperling on June 6 in a private ceremony at All Saints Church in Kemble

Peter was the first of Queen Elizabeth's grandchildren to marry and faced backlash for selling photos from his first wedding in 2008

Peter and Harriet were both previously married and will blend their families in what will be the first major royal wedding of 2026

Peter Phillips' upcoming wedding is expected to bring together members of the British royal family, and the private ceremony will likely avoid the drama that followed his first nuptials.

Princess Anne's son, 48, is set to wed his nurse fiancée, Harriet Sperling, on June 6 at All Saints Church in Kemble, and the wedding will be the second for both the bride and groom.

In May 2008, the entrepreneur became the first of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's grandchildren to marry when he wed Autumn Kelly at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

The Queen, Prince Philip, the future King Charles and Queen Camilla, Princess Anne, Prince Harry, Prince William's then-girlfriend Kate Middleton and more royal family members attended the celebration, but the newlyweds were soon scrutinized for selling some of the photos.

Autumn Kelly and Peter Phillips with friends and family wedding guests after their wedding ceremony at St. George's Chapel on May 17, 2008 in Windsor, England.Credit: Anwar Hussein/WireImage

According to the Daily Express, Peter and Autumn earned about $673,655 from selling photos from their wedding to Hello! magazine, and guests were allegedly unaware that there were four photographers and a reporter on the ground there.

"The magazine ran a 100-page special, with 59 pages of photographs from the wedding, including 10 of the Queen," the outlet said.

The Daily Mail reported that the "remarkably candid" shots published by Hello! included pictures of the royal family laughing, offering an unguarded glimpse into the day, and Prince Harry giving his grandmother the Queen a kiss on the cheek — a stark departure from the traditional, fixed portraiture the royals are known to release to commemorate events like weddings.

The outlet alleged that the monarch and other senior family members "felt blindsided" by what happened and reported that Buckingham Palace even released a statement after saying that the deal was a "serious error of judgment."

Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly leave St George's Chapel in Windsor on May 17, 2008 after their marriage vowsCredit: IAN MCILGORM/POOL/AFP via Getty

Princess Anne's children, Peter and Zara Tindall, were born into the line of succession. However, she opted not to give them royal titles, and they do not hold working royal roles. The Princess Royal's kids grew up to pursue private careers, and while Peter was technically free to do what he pleased with his wedding pictures, it didn't go down well that photos were sold from what was a family event.

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Politician and Labour MP Ian Gibson called out what he felt was wrong with the situation and said, "The British public would expect the Queen to rise above being pictured in the pages of Hello! She is the Queen, not a footballer’s wife," the Express reported, and Queen Elizabeth even reportedly proceeded to ban senior royals from being involved in photograph deals for celebrity magazines.

Peter and Autumn went on to welcome daughters Savannah and Isla, who are now 15 and 14, and later broke up, with their divorce finalized in June 2021.

Peter and Harriet were first romantically linked when they attended an equestrian event together in May 2024 with his daughters, and their romance blossomed in the royal spotlight.

Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling attend The Easter Sunday Church at Windsor Castle on April 5, 2026.Credit: Shutterstock

The couple announced their engagement in August 2025, and Peter popped the question with a ring linked to the jeweler that made Queen Elizabeth's own engagement ring. On April 1, a spokesperson confirmed that they will marry on Saturday, June 6, at All Saints Church, Kemble in Cirencester, England in a private ceremony.

"Mr Peter Phillips, the son of HRH The Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips, and Ms Harriet Sperling, daughter of the late Mr Rupert Sanders and Mrs Mary Sanders of Gloucestershire, have today announced their wedding date. The summer wedding will take place at All Saints Church, Kemble, Cirencester, on Saturday 6th June 2026, in a private ceremony," a spokesperson for Peter and Harriet said in a statement shared with PEOPLE.

"Both families have been informed jointly of the wedding date by invitation. Their Majesties The King and Queen, The Prince and Princess of Wales have also been informed of the announcement," the statement continued, confirming that the King, Queen and Prince and Princess of Wales have all been notified. "Further details will be announced in due course."

Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling on day four of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse on March 13, 2026.Credit: Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty

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On April 5, Harriet joined the royals for church on Easter for the first time and brought along her daughter, Georgina, 13.

The bride-to-be was previously married, like her fiancé, and the couple will blend their families when they tie the knot this summer.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”