Today, paediatric nurse Harriet Sperling wed Peter Phillips, who is the son of Princess Anne and eldest grandchild of the late Queen Elizabeth; a lavish and lush summery wedding in the English countrysides of Gloucestershire that gathered the breadth of the royal family. For her gown, Sperling opted for a firm royal favorite—Emilia Wickstead.
The white column dress featured a square neck and a delicate lace overjacket fitted above the waist adorned with delicate wildflower embroidery across its long sleeves and sheer high neck, culminating in a captivating, almost 10 foot-long scallop-hemmed train.
“We aligned on something authentic, traditional, and modern,” the designer told British Vogue of the dress, which was crafted across several months and hundreds of hours of atelier work. It is imbued with personal symbolism and exquisite historical references: the lace pays tribute to the local florals where the bride and groom both grew up, and the train was inspired by a 19th century silhouette. As noted by Wickstead, the dress is made of Italian ivory crepe, which, while not so often seen in bridal designs, beautifully “moulds to the body.”
Wickstead has been a tried-and-true designer for the 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 faithful Roland Mouret, paired with Kiki McDonough double drop earrings and a bracelet formerly belonging to Princess Diana. Her look was finished with a boater-style hat by Jane Taylor in a similar hue.
The rest of the bridal look details were similarly elegant: Sterling opted for classic custom satin heels in ivory from Jimmy Choo underneath her sweeping train. For her tiara and earrings, she chose Mayfair jeweler 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, crafted in the same luxurious fabrics as the bride.
King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Princess Anne, Princess Beatrice, and Prince William were among those in attendance at the bucolic setting of All Saints Church in Kemble, Cirencester. Summery dresses in pastel shades, wide-brimmed hats, and the gentlemanly top hats and tails were all key sartorial notes in the royal and high society looks.
