Princess Anne’s son Peter Phillips quizzed by cops over Scots lockdown trip
He made 460-mile journey to home of married woman
THE Queen’s grandson Peter Phillips was reported to police after driving to Scotland to visit a school friend of his sister.
Officers spoke to the 43-year-old at the married woman’s home after being tipped off by locals who believed he had broken lockdown rules.
After he explained that he was on a business trip, officers agreed he had done nothing wrong.
The father of two, who split from his wife last year, lives at his mother Princess Anne’s Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire.
Last week he drove 460 miles to the woman’s £460,000 home in the village of St Cyrus, Aberdeenshire.
His Range Rover was yesterday still parked outside, according to
The Sun on Sunday. It is understood the woman, who is reportedly estranged from her husband, is a friend of Zara Phillips from their days at Gordonstoun School in Moray, and attended her wedding to rugby star Mike Tindall in 2011.
A spokesman for Mr Phillips, a marketing consultant, said he travelled on business with his company XL Medical, which provides rapid Covid tests. He added: ‘We do not comment on details or circumstances of Mr Phillips’ accommodation when travelling on business.’
Police Scotland said: ‘At around 6.40pm on Friday, March 26, police received a report of a potential breach of coronavirus regulations at a property in St Cyrus.
Officers attended, spoke to the occupants and found no breaches of legislation.’
Mainland Scotland is in lockdown with travel permitted only for ‘essential purposes’. England has been under a ‘stay at home’ order, with a gradual easing of rules starting tomorrow.
Mr Phillips, who is 15th in line to the throne, announced his split from Canadian wife Autumn, 41, last February. He married the management consultant in 2008 and they have two children – Savannah, nine, and Isla, seven.
It is not the first time royals have come under lockdown scrutiny. In December last year, Princess Beatrice was accused of flouting Covid rules by dining at an upmarket restaurant with five other people from different households.
At the time, Buckingham Palace declined to comment but a source said she was attending an ‘introductory work meeting’ that was permitted under the rules.
Mr Phillips’ separation from his wife was confirmed in an official statement released in February last year. It said: ‘After informing HM
‘Officers found no breaches of legislation’
The Queen and members of both families last year, Peter and Autumn both agreed to separate. They had reached the conclusion that this was the best course of action for their two children and ongoing friendship. Both families were naturally sad at the announcement, but fully supportive of Peter and Autumn in the joint decision to co-parent their children.’
The statement added: ‘Both Peter and Autumn will remain in Gloucestershire to bring up their two children, where they have been settled for a number of years.’
It has been reported in the past that Peter is the Queen’s favourite grandson. In 2016, he spoke to the Telegraph about their relationship, saying: ‘I’ve always been very close to my grandmother and we speak often. She has been an inspirational person throughout my life.’