King Charles and Queen Camilla May Skip Royal Wedding due to Conflicting Event

Summer’s big royal wedding draws near – yet dates could bump against plans set by King Charles and Queen Camilla. June 6 brings a quiet wedding in Gloucestershire for Peter Phillips, son of Princess Anne, as he ties the knot with Harriet Sperling. The small gathering at All Saints Church may include Charles and Camilla – though their presence isn’t certain.

Derby Day Could Take Priority

That Tuesday’s news paints a different picture. Plans are fixed for them to show up at Derby Day, held at Epsom Downs. Their presence would be the first since Charles became monarch in 2022. Since then, the royal pair haven’t stepped into that scene together. The racecourse sits in Surrey, run by The Jockey Club – bodies they now back as one unit. Prior reign saw Queen Elizabeth hold that role for nearly seven decades, attending each year except on two occasions between 1952 and early 2020.

“We are honored and thrilled that the king and queen will be joining us at Epsom Downs on Derby Day,” said Jim Allen, general manager of the Epsom Downs racecourse. “Their Majesties show great enthusiasm, interest, and support for horseracing in the U.K., and their attendance next week will be a proud moment for all of the team here and everyone connected with the racecourse.”

Scheduling Uncertainty

One rumor says Charles and Camilla could show up at Phillips’s and Sperling’s big event, though nothing is certain yet – so June 6 may pack quite a schedule for them. Even if they appear for the vows, then dash off toward Epsom Downs, reports from Hello! suggest skipping the party after might happen. Nobody knows exactly when things start, however the first race waits till four in the afternoon.

Showing up too will be the Prince and Princess of Wales. The groom’s sister, Zara Tindell, arrives alongside Mike Tindall. Not far behind come Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. “Peter and Harriet’s wedding is an intimate occasion with their close friends and immediate family around them in the Cotswolds,” a friend of the couple told Hello!. “It’s an area where they grew up and is very special to them both.”

Likely Absences

Phillips’s uncle Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, were likely not invited to the wedding, as “it was probably not deemed appropriate to invite them,” the friend added. “It’s Peter and Harriet’s special day, and clearly their attendance would cause a distraction to the whole day.”

As for Phillips’s cousin Prince Harry – whom he was once close to – the friend said, “Peter and Harry haven’t spoken for several years and have simply lost touch, so he hasn’t been invited.” Around 100 miles separate the wedding from the races, according to People. That distance might still allow Charles and Camilla to attend each, the source noted. Traveling between could work out, depending on timing.

Background on the Couple

This union marks the second time either Phillips or Sperling has walked down the aisle. Two daughters fill Phillips’s home, both still in their teens, born during his earlier bond with Autumn Kelly – dissolved back in 2021. On her side, a daughter also grows under Sperling’s roof, shared with former partner Antonio St. John Sperling.