Prince William has reportedly overruled a controversial decision by Queen Camilla ahead of Peter Phillips' wedding to Harriet Sperling this weekend. The Prince of Wales authorized a 'total administrative lockdown of the Royal Vaults' to ensure the bride can wear a tiara if Princess Anne chooses to loan her one.
Background of the Dispute
Peter Phillips, the son of Princess Anne, will marry NHS nurse Harriet Sperling in a private ceremony in the Cotswolds on Saturday, June 6. The event will be attended by senior royals, including King Charles, Queen Camilla, and the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Traditionally, brides marrying into the Royal Family wear a tiara from the Royal Vault. Princess Anne owns several diadems that she could lend to her new daughter-in-law. However, according to a Palace source, Queen Camilla's office attempted to block Harriet from accessing the royal jewels because she lacks aristocratic lineage. Camilla herself did not wear a tiara when she married the then-Prince Charles in 2005, opting instead for a feathered Philip Treacy headpiece.
Princess Anne Seeks William's Intervention
The insider told the Royal Insider Network that Camilla's decision angered Princess Anne, who turned to her nephew, Prince William, to override it. As reported by the Daily Express, William then ordered a 'total administrative lockdown of the Royal Vaults' to allow Peter's bride to wear a tiara, should Princess Anne decide to loan her one.
According to the insider, Anne's Pineflower Aquamarine Tiara is among the top choices for the mother of one. This jewel originally belonged to the Queen Mother and was gifted to Anne on her wedding day in 1973 to Peter's father, Mark Phillips. Another option is the Meander Tiara, given to Anne by Queen Elizabeth II on her 18th birthday in 1968, and worn by Zara Tindall at her wedding in 2011. A third possibility is Anne's favorite Festoon Diamond Tiara, which she loaned to Peter's first wife, Autumn Phillips, for their 2008 nuptials.
Royal Titles and Wedding Details
Regardless of whether Harriet wears a tiara, she will not receive any royal titles. Peter himself holds no titles despite being 19th in line to the throne, as Princess Anne chose not to bestow them on him and his sister Zara at birth, allowing them to lead more normal lives.
The wedding will take place at All Saints Church in Kemble, Gloucestershire, near Princess Anne's Gatcombe Park Estate. The bride and groom, who met in May 2024, have both been married before. Peter was previously married to Autumn Phillips, and Harriet to fitness instructor Antonio St John Sperling. Both have children from previous marriages: Peter has daughters Savannah, 15, and Isla, 14, while Harriet has a teenage daughter named Georgina.
