Peter Philips was pictured engaging in a very public display of affection with his date Harriet Sperling at the recent Gloucestershire Festival of Polo at Beaufort Polo Club, with a body language expert saying the couple appeared very passionate – and didn’t care who saw it.
The oldest son of Princess Anne, Peter, 46, has been described as the ‘favourite grandson’ of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
He has had a somewhat tumultuous relationship history in recent years: in 2021, Peter’s 13-year marriage to Autumn Kelly ended. The divorced couple share two children, the Late Queen’s first great-grandchild Savannah Anne Kathleen, 13, and Isla Elizabeth, 12.
After his marriage breakdown, Peter dated Scottish businesswoman Lindsay Wallace for three years. She even accompanied him to the King’s post-Coronation concert in May. It was recently announced that the couple had gone their separate ways, with friends confirming the split, and suggesting that Peter’s business commitments and non-stop travel had been a factor in the ‘difficult’ decision.
Since then, Peter has been spotted with single mother Harriet, 44, a paediatric nurse and freelance writer, with their first public date taking place at the Badminton Horse Trials in May. It is thought the two met each other in April or May.
Paediatric nurse and freelance writer Harriet Sperling (pictured, left) has reportedly only been dating Peter Phillips (pictured, right) for a couple of months
![According to body language expert Judi James, Harriet 'flung [her arm] right around [Peter's neck to increase the proximity and she pressed her torso against him'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/17/16/86223985-13538565-image-m-4_1718637570252.jpg)
According to body language expert Judi James, Harriet ‘flung [her arm] right around [Peter’s neck to increase the proximity and she pressed her torso against him’
SMOOCH: The couple were even spotted sharing a mouth kiss with each other at one point, showing how passionate their relationship is
During their outing at the polo festival, the couple were open in displaying their affection with each other, sharing a kiss, and standing with their arms around each other.
Some reports have suggested that while it is early days for the relationship, it could become a long-lasting and important bond.
Speaking to FEMAIL, body language expert Judi James noted how enamoured the couple seemed with each other.
She said: ‘Harriet seems so emphatically keen to get Peter’s undivided attention here at a very public event, almost as though she wants to mark her territory by showing off how besotted they are with each other.’
Noting that Peter and Harriet had been extremely open with their public display of affection (PDA), she adde that a big social events like these, there is ‘normally a cut-off point with the PDAs’.
She continued: ‘Peter’s sister Zara, a huge fan of the PDA, usually provides a masterclass in getting it right by making sure she signals spontaneous affection but without moving into the area of intimacy signals that would cut someone off from the people around them.’
According to the body language expert, not only do the couple appear ‘besotted’ with one another, she said they look like they are ‘not worried who sees them’ sharing their PDAs.
Describing images of the couple at the event, Judi said: ‘Harriet turns her attention on Peter by using what looks like some intense and loving eye contact that is returned from him, showing mutual adoration.’
Despite it being early days of their relationship, reports have suggested that the couple could be in it for the long haul
The couple appeared besotted with each other, according to body language expert Judi James, and were spotted hugging and kissing during their date
Harriet (pictured, left) is a paediatric nurse and freelance writer, according to reports. She is also a single mother to a 12-year-old daughter
Harriet ‘pressed her torso against his despite the fact he seemed to be clutching a drink’, said Judi James
Harriet Sperling (pictured) a 44-year-old paediatric nurse and freelance writer, has been described as an ‘unexpected’ choice for a royal girlfriend, due to her job as an NHS nurse, and her candid writing on being a single mother
Peter Phillips is pictured kissing Harriet Sperling on the cheek, during what is believed to be their second public date (seen at the Gloucestershire Festival of Polo)
CLOSE: Harriet Sperling (pictured, right) and Peter Phillips (pictured, left) are seen embracing each other
At one point, Judi noted that Harriet ‘flung her arm right around [Peter’s] neck to increase their proximity.
She continued: ‘And she [pressed] her torso against his despite the fact he seemed to be clutching a drink.’
However, her actions appeared to be reciprocated by Peter, who Judi suggested appeared equally as attracted to Harriet.
‘After some head-touching and eye-gazing they move to some cheek-kissing and nuzzling and even what looks like a mouth kiss, suggesting they are in the stage of love known as the ‘Passionate stage’ and not worried who sees them share it,’ the body language expert explained.
Harriet, who has been described as an attractive and glamorous blonde, has also been called an unexpected choice for a royal girlfriend.
The state-registered nurse, and freelance writer, has openly spoken candidly of her years as a single mother, as well as writing about her experiences working in medicine.
She has described how she and her daughter, now 12, survived ‘against the odds’ as they ‘journeyed 10 years with only each other’ while she juggled parenting with working as a paediatric specialist.
Peter Phillips was married for 13 years to Autumn Phillips. The now-divorced couple share two children. (Peter pictured with new girlfriend Harriet Sperling)
After his divorce in 2021, Peter dated Scottish businesswoman Lindsay Wallace for three years, but they recently split
The new couple could not hide their enjoyment during their date, and were pictured grinning widely at one point (Peter is pictured with new girlfriend Harriet Sperling)
Both Peter and Harriet appeared deeply engaged with each other, gazing into each others’ eyes during their date
Harriet (pictured, left) lives in Gloucestershire, not far from Peter’s home on his mother’s Gatcombe Park estate
Harriet, who is the daughter of a solicitor, lives in Gloucestershire, not far from Peter’s home on his mother’s Gatcombe Park estate. She, like Peter, is also a divorcee.
She has experienced major success during her career as a nurse. Notably, in 2010, Harriet was a key member of a medical team which helped to save critically ill baby Phineas Cockerham.
The three-week-old baby was struck down by a deadly virus that attacked his immune system.
Harriet was part of the team when Phineas was transferred from Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford, Kent, to the world-famous Evelina Children’s Hospital in central London.
Harriet Sperling (pictured, right) is the daughter of a solicitor. She lives in Gloucestershire. (Seen with Peter Phillips)
As a paediatric nurse, Harriet was famously part if the medical tea, that helped to save critically ill baby Phineas Cockerham in 2010
Despite the highly public nature of their date, Harriet and Peter (both pictured) did not seem worried about who saw their PDAs
The couple (pictured) stood in extremely close physical proximity to each other, with their torsos pressing together
Describing her response, she said: ‘Just 20 minutes after receiving the call to collect Phineas, the retrieval team were on our way in an intensive care ambulance.’
After he was treated for the virus, Harriet was featured in a photographic tribute created by Phineas’s father Michael Cockerham which was published in the Daily Mail.
She has also written about the struggles, and joys, of her life as a single parent.
In an article for the Christian magazine Woman Alive, she wrote: ‘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.’
Writing under her maiden name Harriet Sanders, she added: ‘There’s a special kind of love that develops when it’s just the two of you against the world.’