Anne's Husband: A No-Show At Harry's Wedding

Princess Anne's husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, was not present at Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018. At the time, Princess Anne was accompanied by her first husband, Mark Phillips, with whom she shares two children.

Princess Anne's first husband

The couple first met in 1968 at a party for horse lovers in Mexico City and began dating shortly after. They had two children together: Peter Phillips, born in 1977, and Zara Tindall (née Phillips), born in 1981.

Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips separated in 1989 and divorced in 1992, after nearly 20 years of marriage. The divorce was due to Phillips having a child from an extramarital affair in 1985.

Princess Anne's second husband

Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence's relationship began while she was still married to her first husband. They exchanged a series of intimate letters, which were eventually stolen and published by The Sun newspaper. Despite the scandal, the couple persevered and married in a small ceremony at a parish near Balmoral Castle in Scotland. The Church of England did not allow divorcees to remarry at the time, so the Church of Scotland, which permitted the remarriage of divorced persons under certain circumstances, was chosen for the ceremony.

Sir Timothy Laurence served as an equerry to Princess Anne's mother, Queen Elizabeth II, from 1986 to 1989. He joined the navy in 1973 and rose through the ranks, becoming a rear admiral in 2004 and retiring in 2010 after 37 years of service.

Princess Anne, the second child and only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, is known for her equestrian talents and charity work. She has been married to Sir Timothy Laurence for over 30 years.

Princess Anne's wedding dress

The veil was made of silk net embroidered with floral sprays, and her "something borrowed" was the Queen Mary Fringe tiara, which was originally a necklace given to Queen Mary by Queen Victoria and was later repurposed into a tiara. Princess Anne's wedding band was made from Welsh gold, a tradition shared with her mother, grandmother, and aunt.

For her second marriage to Timothy Laurence on 12 December 1992, Princess Anne wore a white jacket over a high-necked white midi dress. She accessorised with a small spray of blossoms in her hair and a simple bouquet of white heather.

Princess Anne's wedding guests

Princess Anne's wedding to her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips, took place on 14 November 1973 at Westminster Abbey in London. The wedding ceremony was attended by around 1,500 guests, including members of the British royal family and European royalty.

The guest list for the wedding included:

• Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the bride's parents
• Charles, Prince of Wales, the bride's brother
• Prince Andrew, the bride's brother
• Prince Edward, the bride's brother
• Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, the bride's maternal grandmother
• Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon and the Earl of Snowdon, the bride's maternal aunt and uncle
• Viscount Linley, the bride's first cousin
• Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones, the bride's first cousin
• Duchess of Gloucester, the bride's maternal great-aunt by marriage
• Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, the bride's first cousin thrice removed (and maternal great-great-aunt by marriage)
• Princess Alexandra, The Hon. Mrs Ogilvy and The Hon. Angus Ogilvy, the bride's first cousin once removed and her husband
• Mr James Ogilvy, the bride's second cousin
• Miss Marina Ogilvy, the bride's second cousin
• Prince Michael of Kent, the bride's first cousin once removed
• The Duke of Northumberland, Lord Steward of the Household
• The Lord Maclean, Lord Chamberlain of the Household
• The Duke of Beaufort, Master of the Horse

Princess Anne's second wedding to Commander (later Vice Admiral) Sir Timothy Laurence took place on 12 December 1992 at Crathie Kirk near Balmoral Castle in Scotland. The ceremony was a private affair with only around 30 guests in attendance, including the Royal Family.

Princess Anne's wedding cake

Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips' wedding cake was a towering 5ft 6-tall, brandy-soaked fruit cake. It was designed and created by Warrant Officer David Dodd of the British Army Catering Corps. The cake featured five tiers of fruit cake, soaked in brandy for four weeks, and decorated with intricate piping and monograms. It weighed 145 pounds and was supported by silver trays. The cake was the same height as the bride, Princess Anne, who wore an embroidered Tudor-style silk wedding dress.

The cake was presented in a commemorative box monogrammed with the letters 'A' and 'M' and included a note that read: "With the best wishes of Her Royal Highness The Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips." The box also featured the royal coronet badge and the date and location of the wedding reception: 14 November 1973, Buckingham Palace.

A slice of this royal wedding cake was auctioned off in October 2019, 46 years after the wedding. The slice was preserved in its original wax paper and accompanying commemorative box. The auction house described the box as having "some wear and staining", with an opening bid of £120 and an estimated final cost of £200-£300.

In addition to the official cake, Audrey's catering team also created a five-tiered hexagonal cake for the couple. This cake was topped with a female jockey on a horse, reflecting the couple's shared love of equestrian sports.

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