The ‘sister-in-law Kate never had’: Peter Phillips’s new wife Harriet Sperling has much in common with the future Queen – and is shaping up to be an important ally with Meghan, Beatrice and Eugenie in the cold

Royal wedding bells will ring for Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling next weekend, marking not only the start of married life for the happy couple, but also the official arrival of a close new friend for the Princess of Wales.

One look at Princess Anne’s son’s NHS nurse fiancée and it’s not hard to see why he would be a new arrival for Kate.

Kate and Harriet not only have similar backgrounds; both come from upper-middle-class families in neighboring Berkshire and Gloucestershire respectively, they are also of similar age; Harriet is a year older at 45.

Both have a keen interest in fashion; each have unmistakably similar wardrobes filled with brands like Beulah, ME+ EM and Self Portrait.

It looks like the nurse has already had the ‘Kate effect’ after showing off her styling chops in a romantic fuchsia gown from ethical brand Dilli Grey, known for clothes handmade by artisans in India. Dilli Gray noticed an increase in demand for the dress following Harriet’s appearance, which led them to release an updated version.

Meanwhile, their interests are similarly intertwined: Kate is an avid supporter of all things childhood development through her Early Years work, while Harriet is a trained pediatric nurse specialist and is ‘passionate about early brain development in babies and seeing children thrive’, according to an online bio.

In 2010, Harriet was a key member of a team of paramedics, doctors and clinicians who helped save the life of a critically ill baby named Phineas after he contracted a deadly virus at just three weeks old.

Enter the future, Ms. Phillips, a like-minded, level-headed ally to Kate; A relationship that Meghan does not like very much, considering that she is living in Montecito, bidding farewell to royal life, while Princess Beatrice and Eugenie have been shrouded in scandals since their relationship with the House of York’s pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein came to light.

In addition to their similar sense of style, Kate (pictured at the Order of the Garter at Windsor Castle last year) and Harriet have values ​​in common.

Harriet is a talented freelance writer and recently contributed a heartfelt essay to Woman Alive, detailing her experiences as a single mother and her unwavering Christian faith.

‘My daughter and I traveled only with each other for 10 years. “I liken us to an island, and it’s often hard to imagine someone joining that island,” he wrote.

‘The unique relationship between a single mother and her child is shaped in the fire of struggles and victories. This is a bond characterized by love and survival despite difficulties.

‘This journey has deepened my faith, teaching me to trust God’s plan and find strength in His love.’

Writing is a skill that Kate also has; He has written a fascinating article, The Power of Human Connection in a Distracted World, through the Royal Foundation Early Childhood Centre.

The article, co-written with Harvard Professor Robert Waldinger, discussed the potential harms of smartphones and social media, or the ‘epidemic of disconnection’.

Meanwhile, Harriet’s open-arms welcome into the Royal Family ahead of her engagement last August appears similar to Kate’s experience.

Harriet was seen laughing with King Charles and chatting to Zara Tindall at Royal Ascot last year. He was given the final seal of approval when he arrived at the racetrack in Berkshire in the official car procession alongside senior royals.

Princess Anne’s son and the NHS nurse’s fiancee will marry next weekend in a ceremony attended by scores of senior royals.

Picture: Harriet is seen walking behind the Princess of Wales and other senior members of the Royal Family at this year’s Easter Service at Windsor Castle.

Meanwhile, Kate is the late Queen Elizabeth II. He quickly gained a deep sense of respect from senior members of the Royal Family, including Elizabeth.

Now a regular at Wimbledon and Cheltenham, Harriet has won praise for her fashion choices, which appear to be inspired by the Princess of Wales’ impeccable royal style.

Harriet took a page out of Kate’s playbook as she wore pieces from four of her favorite brands to her first royal Easter ceremony – and next weekend’s wedding dress will no doubt be an even bigger hit.

Peter and Harriet officially announced their engagement in August last year after first being linked in May 2024. In their statement to announce the good news, they said both families were ‘delighted’.

The wedding will mark a new chapter for Peter following the end of his marriage to Canadian-born Autumn Kelly.

They married in a lavish ceremony at St George’s Chapel in 2008 and later welcomed daughters Savannah, now 15, and Isla, 14, before splitting in 2019. Their divorce was finalized in 2021.

Harriet, who had a 13-year-old daughter, Georgina, from her first marriage, quickly became a familiar and welcome face in royal circles.

Earlier this year the couple looked happier than ever as they attended the Cheltenham Festival alongside Zara and Mike.

Harriet is the late Queen Elizabeth II, created by the same jeweler behind the Queen’s iconic 1946 engagement ring. Peter looked visibly impressed as he proudly showed off his engagement ring, a sparkling design said to be a touching tribute to Elizabeth.

Harriet herself is richly connected and has a relationship with the Duke of Gloucester through her late father, Rupert Sanders.

Royal biographer Richard Fitzwilliams has suggested the upcoming ceremony will be significantly different to Peter’s first wedding, leaving some sections of the Royal Family ‘bewildered’.

With almost the entire royal family now expected to gather in the Cotswolds next weekend, Peter and Harriet’s wedding is set to be one of the most important private Royal Family celebrations of the year.