Harriett Phillips has revealed she is stepping away from a 24-year career in the NHS to take on a new role supporting families and young children, in her first interview since marrying Peter Phillips.
The wife of Princess Anne’s son has been appointed patron of Home-Start Cotswolds, a charity she previously worked alongside during her time as a specialist nurse in Gloucestershire.
Mrs Phillips said the move marked a natural progression after more than two decades in healthcare, allowing her to use her professional experience to support a cause she has become increasingly passionate about.
“It’s been an enormous privilege to spend 24 years working in the NHS, and I’ve loved my career,” she said.
She added that her interest in promoting healthy brain development had grown over time, influencing her decision to take on the new charitable commitment.
As patron of Home-Start Cotswolds, Mrs Phillips will help raise awareness of the charity’s work supporting parents and young children.
Her responsibilities will include attending events, taking part in meetings, promoting the organisation through its website and social media, and visiting community groups to meet volunteers and families.
She hopes to draw on her clinical background to help ensure parents and practitioners have access to the knowledge and support they need during the crucial early years of childhood.
Mrs Phillips said the transition did not feel like a complete change of direction, but rather an opportunity to put the lessons of her NHS career to use in a different way.
She explained that children’s early relationships, experiences and environments could have a profound influence on their future, making support for families particularly important.
In her first interview since marrying Peter Phillips in June, Mrs Phillips also opened up about their relationship and how their romance began.
The couple first got to know one another in early 2022 through their children, who played for the same hockey team.
Their initial meetings were informal, with the pair chatting while watching their daughters take part in matches.
Mrs Phillips revealed that her father had died shortly before she met Peter, adding that she sometimes wondered whether there was a reason their paths crossed when they did.
She credited Peter with making the first move, describing him as the person who recognised there was something between them and acted on it.
Speaking warmly about her husband, she called him romantic, loving, kind and loyal, adding that he was also her best friend.
Their early dates were deliberately uncomplicated, involving dog walks, quiet pub meals and cooking together at home.
Mrs Phillips also recalled her first meeting with her new mother-in-law, Princess Anne, at Gatcombe Park.
She described the encounter as relaxed and welcoming, with the pair sitting together in the gardens over cups of tea.
She spoke admiringly of the Princess Royal’s dedication to her work, particularly her commitment to charities and causes that reflect her personal interests.
Mrs Phillips said Anne set an extraordinary example through her work ethic, describing her as loyal and deeply respected within the Royal Family.
Her new charitable interests also bring her into an area closely associated with the Princess of Wales, whose work has increasingly focused on the importance of early childhood development.
Mrs Phillips revealed that she feels able to turn to Catherine for advice and guidance, describing her as open-hearted and someone she would feel comfortable approaching for support.
She also recalled meeting the Prince and Princess of Wales during a family holiday in the Isles of Scilly, describing the encounter as casual and centred around their children playing together.
Peter Phillips and Harriet married in June in a ceremony attended by members of the Royal Family, including the King and Queen.
The wedding took place at a church Mrs Phillips had attended since childhood, making the setting particularly meaningful for her.
She recalled the excitement of walking into the church surrounded by flowers, having grown up attending services there.
Despite the media attention surrounding the occasion, she said she had been so focused on the moment that the cameras barely registered.
The presence of the King and Queen was particularly special, although she described the day as peaceful and said she had been able to remain focused on the significance of the occasion.
She called it the happiest day of her life, alongside the birth of her daughter.
