ROYAL STAGE

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie high-profile return to public royal life at Peter Phillips wedding

The gathering is shaping up to be one of the most significant royal family events of the year

MAY 18, 2026 10:33 AM EDTMAY 18, 2026, 10:33 AM EDT

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are preparing for a return to the royal stage this summer, as they are expected to attend the wedding of their cousin, Peter Phillips, to Harriet Sperling on June 6 at All Saints’ Church in Kemble, Gloucestershire.

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The gathering is shaping up to be one of the most significant royal family events of the year, with a guest list that is expected to include senior royals such as King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Catherine, the Princess of Wales, alongside Princess Anne, Prince Edward, and Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh.

Princess Beatrice and Eugenie break royal tradition amid family controversy — For Beatrice and Eugenie, the wedding represents a high-profile return to public royal life.

Notably, the ceremony is also expected to be a carefully curated affair, with reports indicating that former Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson will not be invited. Prince Harry is also said to be excluded, as organizers aim to keep the focus firmly on the bride and groom and maintain an intimate tone for the occasion.

For Beatrice and Eugenie, the wedding represents a high-profile return to public royal life. It will be their first major appearance of the year after a period of lower visibility, following renewed media attention on their parents and wider scrutiny surrounding their family connections.

The brief hiatus follows their last appearance with the family at the Sandringham Christmas service, shortly after their father was stripped of his remaining royal titles in October. — Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are preparing for a return to the royal stage this summer, as they are expected to attend the wedding of their cousin, Peter Phillips, to Harriet Sperling.

Their re-emergence comes against a backdrop of continuing sensitivity within the monarchy. Recent reporting has suggested that the sisters have kept a more restrained public schedule in the wake of ongoing controversies linked to Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, whose association with Jeffrey Epstein has continued to cast a long shadow over the family.

Family circumstances add another layer of significance. Princess Eugenie, who announced earlier in May that she is expecting her third child, is reportedly hoping to attend the ceremony, while Princess Beatrice has already confirmed her presence.

The wedding itself marks an important personal milestone for Peter Phillips, 48, who became engaged to Harriet Sperling, 45, after they were first linked in 2024 and announced their engagement last August.

It was revealed that the daughters of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson will not be joining the royal family at Windsor this Easter, breaking with a long-standing tradition. — Recent reporting has suggested that the sisters have kept a more restrained public schedule in the wake of ongoing controversies

For Peter, it also follows the end of his previous marriage to Canadian-born Autumn Kelly, which began in 2008 at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, and ended in divorce finalised in 2021. He shares two daughters, Savannah and Isla, with his former wife.

Why Sarah Ferguson’s next move could threaten Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie’s royal standing — Notably, the ceremony is also expected to be a carefully curated affair, with reports indicating that former Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson will not be invited.

Harriet Sperling has increasingly appeared within royal circles over the past year and was previously seen at Royal Ascot, where she joined members of the royal family during the carriage procession, an appearance widely interpreted as a sign of her growing acceptance within the wider royal orbit.

While the ceremony is described as intimate, it is expected to carry the atmosphere of a major royal occasion, bringing together a wide cross-section of the family at a moment when unity and public focus are particularly valued.