Newlywed Harriet Sperling is resplendent in her official solo photograph from her Cotswolds wedding to Princess Anne's son, Peter Phillips.
The NHS nurse tied the knot with Peter on Saturday 6 June at All Saints' Church in Gloucestershire. In two newly-released pictures from her special day, taken by Mark Nicholson, the bride posed in a whimsical outdoor setting as she looked wistfully into the distance in her column wedding dress.
She was also pictured showing off the back of her dress as she looked over her shoulder, with her veil concealing her face.
© Mark NicholsonHarriet stunned in an Emilia Wickstead gown featuring a high square neckline, long lace sleeves and a sweeping veil, teamed with matching white Jimmy Choo heels. She paired her beautiful bridal ensemble with a vintage diamond and pearl tiara loaned by Pragnell.
140-hour labour of love
Harriet's bespoke column dress took 140 hours to make with gorgeous white lace hand-applied throughout.
Designer Emilia Wickstead shared special details behind the design, revealing the custom wedding gown was "developed from initial sketch to final creation, fitted in our private salon on Sloane Street and crafted entirely by our in-house team at our West London atelier."
"An intentional dialogue between tradition and modernity runs throughout the design," the designer explained on Instagram, sharing that the incredible three-metre train was inspired by the early 19th century.
© Samir Hussein/WireImage"Every element is rooted in a signature Emilia Wickstead silhouette and realised in Italian ivory crêpe, overlaid with exceptionally fine French Leavers lace featuring an all-over prairie flower motif that continues to the edge of Harriet’s veil. The lace is meticulously hand-applied throughout."
The designer continued: "Its heritage traces back to the early 1900s, following the invention and patenting of the revolutionary Leavers loom in Britain. Scalloped lace appliqué enhances the gown’s architectural, sculptural lines, extending across the neckline and cuffs. Dome buttons allow each scalloped edge to meet with precision along the centre back, underscoring the craftsmanship at the heart of the design."
Similarities with Princess Kate
© GettyWith its swathes of lace, fashion stylist Oriona Robb told Best Quality Designer Handbag that it was reminiscent of the Princess of Wales' Alexander McQueen wedding dress.
"There are subtle parallels with the Princess of Wales in the choice of Emilia Wickstead and the commitment to timeless elegance," she began. "Rather than following fleeting bridal trends, Harriet has chosen a look rooted in craftsmanship, sophistication and tradition. The addition of the Pragnell family tiara makes the ensemble feel both deeply personal and beautifully regal.
"What strikes me most is how effortless she looks. The dress is undeniably grand, yet she wears it with such grace and ease that the overall effect feels timeless rather than formal."
