Today, paediatric nurse Harriet Sperling married Peter Phillips—the son of Princess Anne and the eldest grandchild of the late Queen Elizabeth. Their wedding was a lavish, summery affair set in the English countryside of Gloucestershire, bringing together much of the royal family. For her gown, Sperling chose a firm royal favourite: Emilia Wickstead.
The white column dress featured a square neckline and a delicate lace overjacket fitted above the waist, adorned with intricate wildflower embroidery along its long sleeves and sheer high neck. It finished with a stunning, nearly 10-foot-long train edged with scalloped lace.
“We wanted something authentic, traditional, and modern,” the designer told British Vogue about the dress, which took several months and hundreds of hours of atelier work to create. It’s filled with personal meaning and subtle historical nods: the lace pays tribute to the local flowers from the area where the bride and groom grew up, and the train was inspired by a 19th-century silhouette. As Wickstead noted, the dress is made from Italian ivory crepe—a fabric not often used in bridal designs—which beautifully “moulds to the body.”
Harriet Sperling and her bridesmaids all wore Emilia Wickstead.
Photo: Getty Images
Wickstead has long been a trusted designer for royal women, most often seen on Kate Middleton—Catherine, Princess of Wales—for her public engagements. Kate gave her own masterclass in royal wedding guest dressing: she wore a blush-pink, drop-waist, pleated knee-length dress from old favourite Roland Mouret, paired with Kiki McDonough double drop earrings and a bracelet that once belonged to Princess Diana. She finished the look with a boater-style hat by Jane Taylor in a similar shade.
The rest of the bridal look was just as elegant. Sperling wore classic custom satin heels in ivory from Jimmy Choo under her sweeping train. For her tiara and earrings, she chose Mayfair jeweller Pragnell, who also designed her three-stone diamond engagement ring and has a long history with the royals, including the late Queen Elizabeth.
Sperling’s bridesmaids—daughters Georgia, Savannah, and Isla from the couple’s previous relationships—also wore Emilia Wickstead, made from the same luxurious fabrics as the bride.
King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Princess Anne, Princess Beatrice, and Prince William were among the guests at the bucolic setting of All Saints Church in Kemble, Cirencester. Summery dresses in pastel shades, wide-brimmed hats, and the gentlemen’s top hats and tails were key style notes among the royal and high society looks.
Congratulations to both Harriet Sperling and Peter Phillips!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about Harriet Sperlings wedding dress and the royal wedding to Peter Phillips
BeginnerLevel Questions
Q Who is Harriet Sperling
A She is an English fashion designer known for her feminine modern bridal wear She designed the dress for her own wedding to Peter Phillips the Queens grandson
Q Who is Peter Phillips
A He is the son of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips and the eldest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II He was not a working royal so the wedding was a private family affair
Q Where did the wedding take place
A It was held at St Georges Chapel in Windsor Castle Gloucestershire a very traditional royal wedding venue
Q What did Harriet Sperling wear for her wedding
A She wore a bespoke Emilia Wickstead gown It was a classic longsleeved highnecked dress with a fitted bodice and a full Aline skirt
Q Why did she choose Emilia Wickstead
A She wanted a designer who understood royal protocol but also created modern clean lines Emilia Wickstead is known for that style
AdvancedLevel Questions
Q What specific details made the Emilia Wickstead dress unique for a royal wedding
A The dress featured a high round neckline long sleeves with a slight puff at the shoulder and a dramatic sweeping train It was made of a heavy lustrous satin giving it a very structured sculptural look It was also a custom oneofakind design
Q How did her dress compare to other royal brides
A While Kate wore a lace Alexander McQueen gown and Meghan wore a simple modern Givenchy dress Harriets Emilia Wickstead was a blend of both classic and structured like Kates but with a clean minimalist silhouette like Meghans It was less ornate focusing on the fabric and cut
Q Was the wedding a state or private event