Queen’s grandson Peter Phillips ‘splits from wife’
THE Queen’s grandson Peter Phillips is splitting from his wife Autumn, it was reported last night.
The monarch is said to be ‘upset’ after Peter, 42, was told by his 41year-old Canadian spouse she wants to separate after 12 years of marriage. The son of Princess Anne – seen as the Queen’s favourite grandson – married the management consultant in 2008 after the pair met at the Canadian Grand Prix.
The couple have two children – Savannah, nine and Isla, seven. Peter is 15th in line to the throne.
It was suggested last night Prince Harry and Meghan’s departure from royal life to live in Canada, Autumn’s home country, may have hastened the decision.
A friend told The Sun: ‘Peter is absolutely devastated by this and just didn’t see it coming.
‘He thought he was happily married and had the perfect family with two lovely daughters. But he is now in total shock.
‘Autumn is a wonderful wife and mother and a very intelligent woman but she’s been telling her friends for some time that there were issues. She is a favourite of the Queen and I’m sure Her Majesty will be very upset by this.
‘It’s the last thing she needs after all her recent troubles and you get the feeling that the Royal Family is falling apart a little bit.’
It comes weeks after Peter was ridiculed as being a royal for hire after appearing in a Chinese advert for milk. The Daily Mail revealed he was promoting a state owned-dairy farm. In the ad, he held a glass of milk in front of a grand home. He boasted that the royals were brought up on Jersey milk from the herd of cows around
Windsor Castle. There was further controversy when Longleat House in Wiltshire, where the advert was filmed, did not give permission for the stately home to feature.
Peter has recently been pointed to as an example of how the Duke and Duchess of Sussex could support themselves after they fully step back from their royal duties.
The Queen’s eldest grandson met Autumn Kelly while he was working for the Williams Formula 1 team. However, she did not realise he was a royal until weeks later. It is thought no other party is involved in the breakup.