Princess Anne’s Wedding: Royal Wedding of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips

Royal Wedding of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips

Princess Anne’s wedding was the highly anticipated royal marriage between Princess Anne, the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, and Captain Mark Phillips, a British Army officer, on November 14, 1973, at Westminster Abbey in London, England.

Princess Anne, who was 23 years old at the time of her wedding, had met Captain Mark Phillips, then 25, at a party for horse enthusiasts in 1968. Both shared a passion for equestrian sports, and their relationship blossomed over the years. In May 1973, Buckingham Palace officially announced the couple’s engagement.

The royal wedding was a grand affair, attracting considerable public interest and media attention, both in the United Kingdom and around the world. It was only the second time in the 20th century that a British monarch’s daughter had married, and the first such wedding to be widely televised. An estimated 500 million viewers tuned in to watch the ceremony.

On the wedding day, Princess Anne wore a Tudor-style, high-necked wedding gown designed by Maureen Baker, featuring a fitted bodice and a full skirt with a 20-foot train. Captain Mark Phillips wore his military uniform. The ceremony was officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Michael Ramsey, and was attended by numerous dignitaries and members of the royal family, including Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, and Princess Anne’s siblings, Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward.

Following the ceremony, the newlyweds made the traditional appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, where they waved to the cheering crowds and shared a public kiss. The couple then celebrated with a reception at the palace before departing for their honeymoon aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia, which took them on a cruise through the Caribbean.

Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips had two children, Peter Phillips, born in 1977, and Zara Phillips, born in 1981. However, the couple’s marriage faced difficulties, and they separated in 1989 before officially divorcing in 1992. Princess Anne later married Timothy Laurence, a naval officer, while Captain Mark Phillips married Sandy Pflueger, an American equestrian.