Peter Phillips’s wife, Harriet, has revealed that she has a royal confidante she can turn to for advice and guidance – the Princess of Wales.
In her first interview since marrying Princess Anne’s son in June, Mrs Phillips spoke warmly about her relationship with Catherine, revealing that she would feel entirely comfortable approaching the future Queen if she needed support.
Speaking to HELLO!, she described the Princess of Wales as “very open-hearted” and said she could look to her for advice.
The revelation offers a glimpse into the relationship developing between Harriet and the wider Royal Family following her marriage to Peter, who is Princess Anne’s only son.
Harriet Phillips reveals her connection with Catherine
Mrs Phillips suggested that her connection with Catherine extends beyond simply being members of the same extended family.
She revealed that she felt able to turn to the Princess of Wales for guidance, saying she would always be comfortable asking her for advice if she needed it.
The two women also share an interest in an area that has become particularly important to Catherine: the development and wellbeing of young children.
Mrs Phillips has recently stepped away from a 24-year career in the NHS to become patron of Home-Start Cotswolds, a charity supporting parents and families.
Her professional background as a specialist nurse in Gloucestershire helped shape her growing interest in healthy brain development and the importance of early childhood experiences.
Catherine has made early childhood development a central focus of her public work, with her own initiatives highlighting the importance of the first years of a child’s life.
It is a shared interest that provides common ground between the two women.
A warm welcome from Princess Anne
While Harriet spoke affectionately about Catherine, she also revealed what it was like meeting her mother-in-law, Princess Anne, for the first time.
Their initial meeting took place in the gardens of Gatcombe Park, the Princess Royal’s Gloucestershire home.
Mrs Phillips recalled sitting on garden benches with Anne and enjoying cups of tea, describing the experience as relaxed and welcoming.
She also spoke with considerable admiration about the Princess Royal’s approach to her charitable work.
Harriet said Anne set an extraordinary example through her work ethic, particularly her dedication to causes that genuinely reflect her interests.
She described her as incredibly loyal and highly respected within the Royal Family.
How Peter Phillips and Harriet found love
The interview also offered a rare insight into how the relationship between Peter and Harriet began.
The couple first got to know one another in early 2022, after their daughters began playing for the same hockey team.
Their romance started in an ordinary way, with conversations while watching their children play.
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.
It was Peter who made the first move, with Harriet saying he was brave enough to recognise the connection between them and act on it.
She had plenty of affection for her husband when describing him, calling him romantic, loving, kind and loyal, as well as her best friend.
Their early dates were deliberately low-key, involving dog walks, quiet meals in pubs and cooking together at home.
A wedding day she will never forget
Peter and Harriet married in June in a ceremony attended by several senior members of the Royal Family, including the King and Queen.
For Harriet, the setting was particularly meaningful as the wedding took place in a church she had attended since childhood.
She recalled the moment she entered the building, surrounded by the fragrance of flowers, after sharing a prayer with the vicar outside.
Despite the significant media attention surrounding the occasion, Harriet said she was so focused on the day itself that the cameras barely registered.
The presence of Their Majesties was a particularly special moment, which she described as an extraordinary experience.
She called it the happiest day of her life, apart from the birth of her daughter.
A new chapter for Princess Anne’s daughter-in-law
The interview comes as Harriet begins a new chapter following her decision to leave the NHS after 24 years.
As patron of Home-Start Cotswolds, she hopes to use her clinical experience to help raise awareness of the importance of early childhood development and ensure families receive appropriate support.
She described the move as a natural progression rather than a complete change of direction, explaining that she wanted to use what she had learned throughout her career in a new way.
