For most NHS nurses across the country, a hat costing just shy of £950 is out of the question.
But Peter Phillips’ girlfriend, Harriet Sperling, stepped out of the royal carriage at Ascot yesterday in an outfit totting up to £3,720 – all from royal-approved brands.
Harriet, 45, played the part perfectly in a Suzannah London ivory ensemble featuring a cropped jacket with puffed sleeves and matching skirt, costing £890 and £995 respectively.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, was dressed by the same designer yesterday in an ivory appliqué daisy lace ensemble costing £3,780.
Harriet paired her look with a £395 clutch and £495 mid heel pumps, both by Emmy London, a brand which has been worn by both Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Zara Tindall.
While the clutch and heels were repeats, the rest of her outfit was new for Ascot and the most eye-watering cost of all was a £945 Awon Golding Millinery hat she wore, a designer previously worn by Meghan Markle.
While it’s unclear whether some of the pieces were rented or loaned by designers, the full price of the outfit would certainly put a dent in the budget of the average NHS worker in Harriet’s position as a Paediatric Nurse Specialist – with an average salary ranging from £37,000 to £58,000 per year.
Peter, 47, who is King Charles’s nephew, has been dating Harriet for over a year, after breaking up with his previous partner of three years, Lindsay Wallace.
And the invitation to join the prestigious procession can be seen as a seal of approval from the King and a very high honour.
According to royal reporter Ian Lloyd, the late Queen Elizabeth didn’t include royal girlfriends in the procession unless they were engaged.
In 2022, Peter’s ex-girlfriend Lindsay Wallace broke royal tradition with her Ascot appearance as she rode in a carriage despite the couple not being engaged.
Last year, the couple packed on the PDA before meeting with the King and Queen, embarking on their new romance just weeks after his split from Lindsay.
The smitten pair have since attended an array of high society events together, including Wimbledon and the Badminton Horse Trials – as well as Cheltenham Races in January.
Yesterday, she appeared to be getting on swimmingly with the royals, chatting with Princess Anne on the balcony, while Peter’s sister Zara Tindall was at one point seen helping out by fixing her hat.
Zara – often regarded for her gregarious manner and popularity among the royal family – was seen exchanging casual greetings and hugs and kisses with the rest of the family.
In 2010, Harriet was a key member of a team of medics, doctors and clinicians who helped save the life of a critically ill baby, named Phineas, after he was struck down by a deadly virus aged just three weeks.
She featured in a unique tribute, created by Phineas’ photographer father Michael Cockerham, which was published in the Guardian Weekend Magazine.
The pediatric nurse is related to the Duke of Gloucester through her late father, The Telegraph reported previously.
But her curious family ties do not stop there, as the paper also revealed that Harriet’s second cousin once removed is Christopher Courage, 61, a descendant of the Courage Brewery’s founder John Courage.
While no information is available about her ex-husband, Harriet has a daughter, thought to be around the same age as Peter’s girls, Savannah, 14, and Isla, 12, whom he shares with ex-wife, Autumn.
Peter and Autumn ended their 13-year marriage with a divorce in 2020, but continue to co-parent their daughters.
It seems that Harriet may have won the royal seal of approval with her pricey Ascot look.
