King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived at Epsom by helicopter today after making a quick getaway from Peter Phillips’ wedding.
It’s a busy Saturday for Charles, 77, and Camilla, 78, who joined other senior royal family members such as the Prince and Princess of Wales at the nuptials of Princess Anne’s son before heading to Epsom Downs.
Peter, 48, and NHS nurse Harriet Sperling, 45, had a private ceremony at All Saints Church in the Gloucestershire village of Kemble on Saturday afternoon.
It is Peter’s second wedding, after he finalised his divorce to Autumn Kelly in 2021 following 13 years of marriage.
The King and Queen attended the service before flying to the racecourse for the Betfred Derby Day’s big race at 4pm. They arrived with wide smiles and greeted wellwishers.
It represents a major boost for the annual event as the monarch follows in the footsteps of his late mother Queen Elizabeth II, who missed only two Epsom appearances during her entire reign.
Today Peter and Harriet tied the knot in highly-anticipated ceremony that reflected the nature of modern family life.
Both Peter’s two daughters from his first marriage, Savannah, 15, and Isla, 13, and Harriet’s daughter Georgina, 13, who is shared with her ex-husband Antonio St John Sperling, played major roles as bridesmaids in the ceremony.
King Charles arrives at All Saints Church in Kemble, Gloucestershire, ahead of the wedding of Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling
Queen Camilla arrives at the wedding of Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling
Peter and Harriet pose for photographs after getting married at All Saints Church in Kemble today, along with bridesmaids Savannah, Isla and Georgina
The King and Queen were whisked off by helicopter from the wedding in Gloucestershire to attend the Epsom Derby in Surrey
Besides the King and Queen, Princess Anne and vice admiral Sir Tim Lawrence, Peter’s sister Zara and her husband Mike Tindall, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie all also attended.
Notable absences included Prince Harry and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, although it is understood that his daughters, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, will be in attendance.
The King and Queen were first to leave the ceremony and were then whisked away by helicopter for their flight to Epsom.
As the bells of All Saints Church pealed, the crowd cheered loudly and the assembled guests formed an impromptu umbrella guard of honour so that the bride and groom could emerge almost dry for photographs outside.
Peter and Harriet stood beneath a huge white umbrella with their three bridesmaids behind waving to the crowd before making their exit in a vintage Rolls-Royce.
Shortly afterwards, Kate and William drew more cheers from the crowd as they too were driven off in a black Audi with a police escort behind.
The festivities were overseen by Bentley’s Entertainments, a blue-chip firm which oversaw David and Victoria Beckham’s wedding, multiple parties for Sir Elton John, Princess Eugenie’s Windsor wedding to Jack Brooksbank, and Peter Phillips’ 2008 wedding to Autumn Kelly.
Nineteenth-in-line-to-the-throne Peter and Harriet officially announced their engagement in August last year after first being linked in May 2024.
In a statement to announce the joyous news, they said both families were ‘delighted’.
Today it is expected that the King and Queen attend the service but not the reception, instead catching a helicopter from the Gloucestershire church to Epsom in Surrey.
Guests will toast the couple at the reception hosted by the groom’s family at Gatcombe Park.
But Charles and Camilla will instead race to the Derby, in their roles as patrons of the Jockey Club which owns and runs Epsom Downs Racecourse.
Bride Harriet Sperling arrives at All Saints Church in Kemble with her bridesmaids
King Charles III waves to wellwishers as he arrives at the Gloucestershire chapel
Queen Camilla attends the wedding in Kemble, Gloucestershire today
The royal tradition of attending is now being continued by the couple, who visited on Oaks day in 2024 to present the Coronation Cup and will return to witness its most prestigious day of racing.
Epsom’s general manager Jim Allen said: ‘We are honoured and thrilled the King and Queen will be joining us at Epsom Downs on Derby day.
‘Their Majesties show great enthusiasm, interest and support for horseracing in the UK and their attendance next week will be a proud moment for all of the team here and everyone connected with the racecourse.
‘Derby day provides joy and entertainment to millions of people around the world as one of Britain’s most famous and iconic events, and royal attendance has been synonymous with the meeting for generations.
‘We are delighted that Their Majesties will be continuing this tradition next week.’
The King and Queen’s appearance at the prestigious race – first run in 1780 – will come just over a week before Royal Ascot begins.
