The notable royal absences at Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling's wedding


Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling were surrounded by loved ones as they tied the knot, but a handful of royal family members were missing from the celebrations


 Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling depart from their Royal wedding© Getty
Danielle Stacey
Danielle StaceyOnline Royal Correspondent - London
2 minutes ago
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It was a right royal affair as the King and Queen led wedding goers at Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling's nuptials in the Cotswolds on Saturday.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, Zara Tindall, and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie were among the royals to witness the couple tie the knot at All Saints Church in Kemble.

HELLO! understands that a wedding reception then took place at Princess Anne's sprawling Gloucestershire estate, Gatcombe Park.  

While most of the senior royals were in attendance at Peter and Harriet's wedding, there were some family members who missed the happy occasion.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson

Following their fall from grace, the former Duke of York and his ex-wife have both been keeping a low profile. The King stripped Andrew of all of his titles last year, as a result of his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 

Following public outcry over the revelation that he paid only peppercorn rent at Royal Lodge, Andrew was also forced to move out of his Windsor mansion to Wood Farm Cottage on the Sandringham estate.

Meanwhile, Sarah has not been seen publicly for months following scrutiny over her friendship with Epstein. A number of charities cut ties with her after an email from 2011 revealed she called him her "supreme friend".

Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew attend Katharine, Duchess of Kent's Requiem Mass service at Westminster Cathedral © Getty Images
Andrew and Sarah were last seen publicly together at the Duchess of Kent's funeral last September

Ahead of the wedding, a friend of the couple exclusively told Best Quality Designer Handbag : "Peter and Harriet's wedding is an intimate occasion with their close friends and immediate family around them in the Cotswolds. It's an area where they grew up and is very special to them both.

"When and whether Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and Sarah Ferguson had been invited, it was probably not deemed appropriate to invite them. It's Peter and Harriet's special day, and clearly their attendance would cause a distraction to the whole day."

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who stepped back as senior royals in 2020 and relocated to the US, were not among the guests.

Ahead of Peter's nuptials, a friend told HELLO!: "Peter and Harry haven't spoken for several years and have simply lost touch, so he hasn't been invited."

Prince William, Prince Harry, and Peter Phillips attend the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey © Samir Hussein/WireImage
Peter walked alongside Harry and William at the late Queen's funeral

Harry last visited the UK in January to attend hearings in relation to his legal action against The Daily Mail, however he did not see any family members during his stay. The Duke was last reunited with his father, the King, during a brief meeting at Clarence House in September 2025.

Lady Louise Windsor

While the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and their son, James, Earl of Wessex, were spotted among the wedding guests, Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie's daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, was noticeably absent.

A photo of Lady Louise Windsor smiling © Getty Images
Lady Louise is finishing her studies

The student, 22, is finishing her final year of her four-year English degree at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. Lady Louise, who is likely to carve out her own career, is expected to graduate this summer. 

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