Princess Anne’s Son Peter Phillips and Fiancée Harriet Sperling Make First Public Appearance Since Engagement

Peter and his nurse fiancée made their public debut as an engaged couple at Sunday church service in Sandringham

Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling made their first major public appearance since announcing their engagement by joining the royal family at church after Christmas.

On Sunday, Dec. 28, Princess Anne’s son and his fiancée attended the morning service at St. Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham Estate.

Peter, 48, and Harriet were in sync as they stepped out together for the church service, which King Charles, Princess Anne, her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Prince Edward, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh and more royal family members also attended.

Last week, the engaged couple skipped the royal family’s traditional church outing at Sandringham on Christmas Day and reportedly spent the day with her family instead.

Harriet Sperling and Peter Phillips attend the Sunday morning church service at St Mary Magdalene church in Sandringham, Norfolk on Dec. 28, 2025.Giddens/PA Images via Getty

“They both enjoyed Christmas Day with Harriet’s family and today went to Sandringham for the day to enjoy the rest of the festivities with the royal family and doing the more formal part of things there,” a source close to Harriet and Peter told Hello! magazine in an update published on Dec. 28.

“Harriet effortlessly fits in and is at home in that whole environment and they are both enjoying spending time with his family,” they added.

The Sunday church service was significant as the couple’s first public appearance at a royal event since they announced their engagement on Aug. 1 after one year of dating.

Harriet Sperling and Peter Phillips attend the Sunday morning church service at St Mary Magdalene church in Sandringham, Norfolk on Dec. 28, 2025.Giddens/PA Images via Getty

Peter is Princess Anne’s son with her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips, and he popped the question with an engagement ring that has a special connection to the late Queen Elizabeth’s. Harriet’s sparkler was designed by Pragnall, a Mayfair jewelry house that acquired Philip Antrobus, the designer behind the late Queen Elizabeth’s engagement ring from Prince Philip.

Peter and Harriet, an NHS nurse, made their public debut as a couple at the Badminton Horse Trials in May 2024 and have attended plenty of events together since, with Harriet even reportedly vacationing with the royals at Balmoral Castle.

Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling’s engagement photo. i5 MEDIA

Both are parents to daughters, as well.

Peter shares daughters Savannah, 15, and Isla, 13, with his ex-wife, Autumn Kelly, whom he divorced in June 2021, while Hello! reported that Harriet has a daughter named Georgia.