The King and Queen will attend Derby Day on June 6, the Palace has confirmed, marking a busy Saturday for the royal couple. The same day, Peter Phillips, son of Princess Anne, will marry his NHS nurse fiancée Harriet Sperling. Charles, 77, and Camilla, 78, are expected to join other senior royals, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, at the wedding before heading to Epsom Downs in Surrey.
Wedding Details
Peter and Harriet's private ceremony will take place at All Saints Church in the Gloucestershire village of Kemble. Guests will then attend a reception hosted by the groom's family at Gatcombe Park. The wedding is thought to be in the morning, allowing the King and Queen to travel to Epsom for the Betfred Derby Day's main race at 4pm.
Royal Tradition at the Derby
Both Their Majesties are patrons of the Jockey Club, which owns and operates Epsom Downs Racecourse. The late Queen Elizabeth II was a devoted attendee of the Derby, missing it only twice during her reign. Charles and Camilla are continuing this tradition; they visited on Oaks day in 2024 to present the Coronation Cup and will now witness the most prestigious day of racing.
Epsom’s general manager Jim Allen expressed delight: '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. 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 Derby, first run in 1780, is a highlight of the British racing calendar. The King and Queen's appearance comes just over a week before Royal Ascot begins.
Guest List and Family Dynamics
Prince Harry is understood not to have been invited to the wedding, as he and his cousin have not been close for some time. However, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, daughters of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor (the former Prince Andrew), have been invited and are expected to attend. Their parents, whose associations with the late Jeffrey Epstein have caused controversy, are not on the guest list.
Peter, 48, is nephew of King Charles and 19th in line to the throne. He was previously married to Montreal-born Autumn Kelly from 2008; they had two daughters, Savannah (15) and Isla (13), before separating in 2019. Harriet Sperling, 45, is also a divorcee and has a daughter, Georgina (13), from her first marriage. Peter proposed last summer with a ring designed by the same jeweller who created the late Queen Elizabeth II's 1946 band, a subtle tribute to his grandmother.
Ms Sperling has been warmly welcomed by the royal family. She was seen laughing with King Charles at Ascot last year after travelling in the official carriage procession. Peter Phillips does not use the style HRH, as his mother Princess Anne declined the honour for him and his sister Zara.
