Today marks a poignant milestone in royal history—51 years since Princess Anne exchanged vows with Captain Mark Phillips at Westminster Abbey.
This momentous occasion, which took place on November 14, 1973, was not just another wedding; it was the first-ever televised royal ceremony, captivating an audience of over 500 million viewers worldwide.
The event was a grand spectacle, showcasing the union of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip‘s eldest child with a distinguished lieutenant from the First Queen’s Dragoon Guards.
At the time, Princess Anne believed she had found her soulmate in Mark Phillips.
However, as many know, fairy tales don’t always have happy endings.
After nearly two decades of marriage and the joy of raising two children—Peter, born in 1977, and Zara, born in 1981—the couple announced their separation in 1989.
Buckingham Palace released a statement confirming their split, but it concluded with a surprising twist: “There are no plans for divorce proceedings.”
This unexpected declaration reflected Princess Anne’s struggle with the societal and royal stigma surrounding divorce.
It wasn’t until three years later that she took the unconventional step of filing for divorce on April 13, 1991, despite her earlier assurances.
What led to this change of heart?
Perhaps it was a realization that happiness sometimes requires difficult choices.
The couple’s love story began in 1968 at a horse-riding event in Mexico City, where they bonded over their shared passion for equestrian sports.
In a romantic gesture five years later, Mark proposed with a stunning sapphire and diamond engagement ring crafted by Garrard, sealing their fate as a royal couple.
Their wedding day was a jubilant affair, with street parties erupting across the nation as people celebrated the royal nuptials.
Tradition played a significant role in their wedding, which was marked by the iconic scene of the couple waving to adoring crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
Princess Anne looked resplendent in a vintage-style wedding gown designed by Maureen Baker, featuring intricate pearl embroidery, a high neckline, and long sleeves.
The dress was completed with a dramatic seven-foot train, while the Queen Mary fringe tiara held her elegant veil in place, accentuating her fashionable chignon.
Despite their eventual separation, Anne and Mark managed to maintain a cordial relationship, co-parenting their children with mutual respect.
This amicable arrangement was a testament to their commitment to family, even as their romantic relationship dissolved.
In a surprising twist, Princess Anne remarried just months after her divorce from Mark.
She wed Commander Timothy Lawrence in a private ceremony in Scotland, attended by only 30 guests.
This low-key wedding was a reflection of the Church of England’s restrictions on remarriage for divorcees, which would not be lifted until 2002.
Anne’s second marriage marked a significant moment in royal history, as she became the first royal divorcee to remarry since Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg in Gotha, granddaughter of Queen Victoria.
