Peter Phillips’ new girlfriend is former Ibiza party girl who ditched clubbing to become a devout Christian & NHS nurse
PETER Phillips’ new girlfriend is a former Ibiza party girl who found God – before becoming a hero nurse at a children’s hospital patronised by the Princess of Wales.
Harriet Sperling and the late Queen’s ‘favorite’ grandson spent the weekend strolling hand-in-hand among crowds at Badminton Horse Trials, rarely leaving each other’s side.
Inspirational single mum Harriet, 44, has worked at Evelina London Children’s Hospital for over a decade after she packed away her partying shoes in favour of church pews.
The now-devout Christian once described herself as a “real party girl” but added: “My faith was always in me, but it was kind of dormant.
“Somehow it didn’t seem relevant to my life in London; going to famous nightclubs and spending a lot of time in Ibiza during the summer. I was a real party girl.
“But the end of a seven-year relationship was the turning point for me. I went to church as I felt there was something missing in my life.
“I pray not only on Sunday, but all the time, often just quietly to myself.”
She also spoke about how her relationship with God helps her deal with the stress of her life-saving job, during the 2009 Daily Mail interview, she added: “It helps a lot, especially with my work.
“I am an intensive care children’s nurse at Guy’s Hospital which can be quite stressful and emotionally engaging.”
Harriet’s mother Mary is in the ministry team of her local church, All Hallows in South Cerney, and her father Rupert, who died last year, was a partner in a local solicitors firm.
Medic hero Harriet was a key part of a huge team that saved the life of immunocompromised baby Phineas Cockerham in 2010.
Critically ill Phineas was rushed to the Evelina Children’s Hospital, where Princess Kate has been a patron since 2018 and also opened a new children’s ward in December.
After a team of 63 hospital workers worked tirelessly to save his life, Harriet praised the response time of the team, she said: “Just 20 minutes after receiving the call to collect Phineas, the retrieval team were on our way in an intensive care ambulance.”
Harriet, 44, is also a freelance writer who has spoken out about the “stigma” of raising a child as a single mum.
In an article about raising her child with no “material security,” she described finding “strength” through the close bond she has with her little girl.
She wrote: “In the earlier years of my journey as a single mother to my daughter, resources were scarce, and the future was uncertain.
“Yet, in the absence of material security, I discovered the strength and life that comes from true selfless love.
“A love that is able to be solely devoted to your child.
“It is often tough parenting alone but although there is a stigma to endure, God is able to step in and turn it for good.
“The unique relationship between a single mother and her child is forged in the fires of struggles and victories. It’s a bond characterised by a love and survival against the odds.”
News of Peter and Harriet’s blossoming romance comes just a few weeks after divorcee Peter, 46, who is 18th in line to the throne, split from his partner of three years Lindsay Wallace, 43.
Sources said the relationship simply “ran its course”.
Harriet bears a striking resemblance to both Lindsay and Peter’s ex-wife Autumn Kelly, 46.
He and Canadian-born Autumn, mum to their two girls, announced their engagement in 2007 and wed in 2008.
But in February 2020 they confirmed they had split the previous year.
Their 13-year marriage ended with divorce in June 2021.
Peter met Lindsay, an ex-classmate of Zara, at £45,000-a-year Gordonstoun School in Moray, Scotland.
Lindsay appeared in the Royal Box at Wimbledon with Peter and Queen Camilla last summer.
But the pair called time on their romance earlier this year.
The end of their relationship was described as “amicable”.
Inside ‘smitten’ Peter Phillips’ relationship
By Matt Wilkinson, Emily-Jane Heap & Ryan Merrifield
THE King’s nephew is in a new relationship with a nurse who looks very similar to his ex-partner and wife.
Peter Phillips was revealed by The Sun just a month ago to have ended his previous three-year romance with Lindsay Wallace, 43.
The 46-year-old businessman – son of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips – spent the weekend strolling hand-in-hand at Badminton with girlfriend Harriet Sperling.
Harriet, a paediatric specialist nurse and freelance writer in her 40s, beamed in a pink maxi dress and shades on Saturday.
A friend of Peter confirmed to The Sun that the royal has met someone recently and they were spending time together, stressing it was too early to be anything more.
Sources said his relationship with Lindsay simply “ran its course”.
Harriet bears a striking resemblance to both Lindsay and Peter’s ex-wife Autumn Kelly, 46.
All three women sport long blonde hair and dark eyes.
Peter and Harriet watched the cross-country horse riding from a sponsor’s tent before leaving in a vehicle with Peter’s daughters Savannah, 13, and Isla, 12.
On Sunday they were back at the swish Gloucestershire event, where Peter shared a warm greeting with Queen Camilla.
It is unclear whether Harriet has been formally introduced to the Queen, or Peter’s mum and stepdad Sir Tim Laurence.
He and Canadian-born Autumn, mum to their two girls, announced their engagement in 2007 and wed in 2008.
But in February 2020 they confirmed they had split the previous year.
Their 13-year marriage ended with divorce in June 2021.
Peter met Lindsay, an ex-classmate of sister Zara, at £45,000-a-year Gordonstoun School in Moray, Scotland.
They reconnected at a 2019 reunion and The Sun revealed they had started dating in March 2021.
The relationship became so serious that Lindsay was introduced to his gran, the late Queen Elizabeth II, at Windsor Castle in January 2022.
A witness said of Peter and Harriet: “They looked completely smitten and he was grinning from ear to ear.“He looked like the cat that got the cream and acted without a care in the world.“He didn’t seem to mind who saw them together.
“She looked very happy and relaxed in his company and pleased to be shown off at one of the biggest social events in the equestrian world.
“His love life has certainly taken some very public twists and turns in recent years.
“But they looked extremely close and seemed like they had known each other for some time.
“They certainly seemed very happy and appeared to be over any past relationship woes.”
Despite being the eldest grandchild of the late Queen, Peter was not given a royal title at birth as his parents wanted him and Zara to lead as normal a life as possible.
Peter kept the peace at Prince Philip’s funeral in April 2021 by standing between his cousins, warring William and Harry.
Last Christmas he did not join the other royals at Sandingham.
Away from royal life he has run several firms and last year reportedly wanted to open an ice rink at Kensington Palace.
A spokesman for Peter declined to comment last night.