All round

Why Peter Phillips is the best person to mediate between William and Harry

Via

News Desk

Updated on April 17, 2021

69 Comments

See more articles on:

get top stories via email

After being invited to walk between Prince William and Prince Harry at the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral, Princess Anne’s son Peter Phillips will be the center of attention on Saturday.

The world’s attention will be on him and his royal brothers throughout the short stroll, as they are among the nine family members selected to accompany Prince Philip’s coffin as it exits the Sovereign’s entrance at Windsor Castle at 2.45pm.

The royal brothers were previously seen together in public in March of last year, when they attended the Commonwealth Day service alongside their wives Meghan and Kate.

The awkward mood was tangible, and it has only gotten worse after Harry and Meghan’s acrimonious separation from the Royal Family and their contentious interview with Oprah Winfrey.

As the trio makes their way to the chapel entrance, royal watchers will be searching for some indications of conflict or friendship.

He plays a significant role in the next generation of royals as the Queen’s and Prince Philip’s oldest grandchild. Peter was the rugged, solid, no-nonsense kid they loved as kids, being five years older than William and seven years older than Harry. You can see how close they are to him now that they’ve grown up, joshing each other and laughing hysterically.

Peter Phillips’ sister, Zara Tindall, is also related to the princes. She is reported to have played a role in bringing William and Harry closer. She does not, though, play the supportive big brother part that Phillips does since she is just a year older than William.

Peter, the Queen and Prince Philip’s oldest grandchild, is said to be one of, if not the Queen’s, favorite grandson, not least because he shares his late grandfather’s bluff, no-nonsense, sporty, bantering demeanor. Peter was in charge of organizing the Queen’s 90th birthday Patron’s Lunch in 2016, which included a march on The Mall and a picnic for 10,000 people.

Who is Peter Phillips?

He is the first grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and the late Prince Philip, and is Princess Anne’s oldest child with her ex-husband Captain Mark Phillips.

Peter, who is 17th in line to the throne, is said to be the Queen’s “favorite” grandson, according to royal sources.

Phillips and his sister Zara are linked to the British royal house, but they have never performed royal duties.

Princess Anne is said to have turned down the Queen’s offer of titles for Phillips when he was born in 1977.

According to a BBC archive, “he was born plain Master Phillips because, in spite of being the Queen’s daughter, Princess Anne possesses no hereditary title.”

“Both the princess and her husband are said to have rejected an offer from the Queen of titles which would have enabled their children to be born into the peerage.”

The 43-year-old was in hot water late in March when he was allegedly spotted speeding during the COVID-19 lockdown to meet a married lady.