Peter Phillips, the eldest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II, has announced his engagement to nurse Harriet Sperling. The couple confirmed the news on 1 August and shared that the proposal came with a classic trilogy-style diamond ring crafted by Pragnell, a jeweler long linked to the royal family.
A quiet proposal and a thoughtful choice
According to a statement released on the couple’s behalf, both families were “delighted” by the engagement; a wedding date has not yet been set. Phillips selected Pragnell because the firm acquired Philip Antrobus, the workshop that made Queen Elizabeth’s own engagement ring in 1946. That historic connection gave the new piece an added layer of meaning.
What the experts say about the ring
Jewelry specialist Tobias Kormind reviewed photos of the piece and described it as a timeless design featuring a central oval or round diamond flanked by two tapered stones. He estimated that a ring of similar quality would start at about £10,000, with the final price shaped by the exact cut and carat weight chosen by Phillips.
Who is Harriet Sperling?
Sperling works for England’s National Health Service and is the daughter of the late Rupert Sanders and Mary Sanders of Gloucestershire. She met Phillips last year, and the pair have kept their relationship largely private. Friends say she has already built a warm bond with Phillips’s daughters, Savannah and Isla, from his previous marriage.
Reactions from inside and outside the palace
King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales were told of the engagement before it became public. Royal commentators have noted that this will be the first of Queen Elizabeth’s grandchildren to remarry and that the decision to honor her legacy through the ring choice feels fitting. Social-media responses have been mostly positive, with many praising the understated style of both the announcement and the jewelry.The couple are expected to spend the rest of the summer finalizing wedding plans and juggling family commitments. Phillips continues to work with the sports and event-management firm he co-founded, while Sperling will remain in her NHS post until closer to the ceremony.A small diamond ring cannot replace family members who have passed on, but Phillips’s choice links past and present in a quiet, personal way that seems to suit both him and his future bride.
