Peter Phillips has been described as ‘the Queen’s favourite grandchild‘ – though he wasn’t always in her good books, according to the Prince of Wales.
Sports-mad businessman Peter Phillips is the Queen’s oldest grandchild and nephew of the new King. He is the son of Princess Anne and her ex-husband Captain Mark Phillips.
Peter has been described as “the Queen’s favourite grandchild”, according to the Express, though the reasons for are somewhat unclear. The Queen is said to have offered to Peter an honorary title when he was born, but the offer was turned down by his parents.
Peter was fifth in line to the throne at the time of his birth, though he is now 17th.
Peter Phillips’ childhood and ‘bollocking’ from the Queen
Peter Phillips was born on November 15, 1977 at St Mary’s Hospital, London, and was christened at Buckingham Palace the following month. Along with his sister Zara, he spent a lot of time with his cousins – including Princes William and Harry – while growing up.
Speaking on the Queen’s 90th birthday, Peter said: “We had a lot of fun and there was a lot of space for kids to run around in and it wasn’t just us, it was the Waleses (William and Harry), Freddie and Ella Windsor and the Gloucesters.
“So there was quite a gang of us growing up in that age and it was a lot of fun. We caused quite a bit of mayhem and chaos.”
Whether or not he was the Queen’s favourite, he once received “an almighty bollocking” from the monarch, in the words of the now Prince of Wales. William and Peter had been playing around on a quad bike at Balmoral when the ticking-off occurred.
William said: “We were chasing Zara around, who was on a go-cart, and Peter and I managed to herd Zara into a lamppost and the lamppost came down and nearly squashed her. I remember my grandmother being the first person out at Balmoral running across the lawn in her kilt, (she) came charging over and gave us the most almighty bollocking, and that sort of stuck in my mind from that moment on.”
Peter Phillips’ career and personal life
Peter went to Gordonstoun School in Moray, Scotland, before going on to study sports science at Exeter University. After graduating he worked in Formula One for both Jaguar and BMW Williams.
It was while working for Williams that he met Canadian-born Autumn Kelly, at the 2003 Montreal Grand Prix. She was employed in the main BMW hospitality suite, and the pair attended a party together after the race.
Autumn only discovered Peter was a member of the royal family after spotting him in a documentary about Prince William. He had chosen not disclose that detail initially.
They were married at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle in 2008 and in December 2010, Autumn gave birth to the Queen’s first great grandchild, Savannah – followed in March 2012 by the couple’s second daughter, Isla. The pair are 18th and 19th in line to the throne.
Peter and Autumn separated in 2019 and divorced last year. A spokesperson said at the time: “Whilst this is a sad day for Peter and Autumn, they continue to put the wellbeing and upbringing of their wonderful daughters Savannah and Isla first and foremost.”
Peter is now with Lindsay Wallace, who was seen beside him at this year’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The pair have been together for more than a year, according to Tatler, and grew close in the aftermath of Peter’s separation from Autumn.
They reportedly met through Zara, who was a schoolmate of Lindsay’s at Gordonstoun. She has two children from a previous relationship.
Peter is the managing director of Sports & Entertainment UK Ltd, which has its headquarters on Buckingham Palace Road in London. He set up the company, which aims to “increase the commercial value for both sports and entertainment rights holders in the UK, whilst delivering world class events to London”, with his friend James Erskine in 2012.
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