Prince William’s “older brother figure” in the Royal Family has celebrated his 47th birthday today.
The Prince of Wales has been supported by his cousin Peter Philips in what William described as “the hardest year of his life,” after his father King Charles and his wife Princess Kate announced they were both diagnosed with cancer.
Zara Tindall’s older brother will almost certainly spend the day with his new girlfriend, Harriet Sperling.
The son of the Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips holds no royal titles and has been described by a royal source as “an older brother” to Prince William.
Prince William’s “older brother figure” in the Royal Family celebrated his 47th birthday today.
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The source told the Telegraph: “He’s always been that sort of slightly older brother to William, ever more so since Harry moved to America.”
As children, Peter, 46, and William, 41, would spend time together at the late Queen Elizabeth’s royal residences.
In recent years, the pair have regularly attended the same events, including Trooping the Colour and the Royal Family’s annual Christmas Day walk to St Magdalene church in Sandringham.
During a recent interview with Sky News Australia, Phillips praised William and Kate, reflecting on the princess’s character.
Peter Phillips has two daughters, Savannah Phillips and Isla PhillipsGettyHe said: “She’s remarkable in herself…Her and William make a fantastic team together.”
Peter and his new girlfriend were first seen together in the summer, just weeks after he split from his “rock solid” girlfriend of three years Lindsay Wallace.
A source told the Telegraph that Peter had a tough time following his split with Lindsay.
They said: “I think it’s fair to say Pete has had a pretty tough time.”
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Peter Phillips is the eldest child of Princess Anne and Mark PhillipsPAHis ex-girlfriend was an former classmate of his sister Zara Tindall.
The former couple met at Gordonstoun School in Moray, Scotland, but reconnected years later at a 2019 school reunion after Peter divorced Autumn Kelly, his wife of 12 years.
The ex-couple began dating two years later in 2021, with Lindsay meeting the late Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle in January 2022.
At the time, sources described the split as “amicable”, with one claiming the relationship had “run its course”.