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A year on from his divorce, the Queen’s grandson Peter Phillips has entered a bright new chapter of his life with his new love firmly by his side.
The Queen’s eldest grandson, 44, who lives at Princess Anne’s Gatcombe Estate next door to his sister Zara Tindall, split from his Canadian wife Autumn, mother of his daughters Savannah, 12, and Isla, 11, in February 2020 after 14 years together. Their divorce was finalised 16 months later, in June last year.
By then rumours had already started circulating that Peter had found love again with Lindsay Wallace, an old school pal from his days at £40,000-a-year Gordonstoun.
He made headlines when he made a visit to Ms Wallace’s Scottish home in March 2021, sparking speculation he might have broken lockdown rules. The pair were photographed together for the first time eight months later when Lindsay joined Peter at the double royal christening of August Brooksbank and Lucas Tindall.
In the months since, Peter has introduced Lindsay, the daughter of an oil tycoon, to his grandmother the Queen. Her Majesty is said to have very much enjoyed meeting Ms Wallace.
The seriousness of their relationship was made clear this weekend when Ms Wallace joined her royal beau at three separate Platinum Jubilee events: the Epsom Derby, the Platinum Party and the Platinum Pageant. At the former, the couple were joined by Zara and Mike Tindall and Princess Anne, but the second was even more significant because Ms Wallace attended alongside Peter’s two children.
It is not out of the realms of possibility that Peter might one day might want to pop the question, if things keep going as well as they are. Yet there is one major roadblock in their way: while Ms Wallace has separated from her husband Andrew, the pair are not divorced.
SATURDAY: A year on from his divorce, the Queen’s grandson Peter Phillips has entered a bright new chapter of his life with his new love firmly by his side. Above, Peter and Lindsay Wallace made their public debut at Royal Epsom on Saturday
SATURDAY NIGHT: The seriousness of their relationship was made clear when Ms Wallace accompanied Peter to the Platinum Party at Buckingham Palace on Saturday night, along with his daughters (one pictured right) and mother Princess Anne
SUNDAY: It was another family affair when Lindsay joined Peter and his daughters at the Platinum Pageant on Sunday night. Pictured, the couple speaking to Sadiq Khan and his wife ahead of the start of the spectacle
EX-WIFE: The Queen’s eldest grandson split from his Canadian wife Autumn in February 2020. The couple finalised their divorce in June 2021. Pictured, the couple on the Buckingham Palace balcony with their daughters in 2019
The stay-at-home mother parted from businessman Andrew, her husband of 11 years, at around the same time last year that Phillips announced he and his wife Autumn were divorcing after 12 years of marriage.
Peter and Autumn Kelly, a Montreal-born management consultant, met at the 2003 Canadian Grand Prix. At the time, he was working for the Williams Formula 1 team. She is said not to have known he was the Queen’s grandson until six weeks later, when she saw him on television.
She then moved to Britain and married Phillips in 2008 in a ceremony at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, that caused controversy because the couple sold the photographic rights to Hello! magazine for a reported £500,000.
The couple welcomed daughters Autumn, 12, and Isla, 11, who have been raised on Princess Anne’s country estate of Gatcombe Park, in Gloucestershire.
Peter’s sister Zara and her family also live on the estate, and the cousins enjoy an extremely close relationship.
Peter and Autumn shocked the world when the announced in February 2020 that they were separating after 12 years of marriage.
The breakdown of Autumn and Peter’s marriage was considered as particularly painful for the Queen, who enjoys a close relationship with her grandson’s wife.
FAMILY TIES: Mother-of-two Ms Wallace, left, is a close friend of Zara (right together) from their days at £40,000-a-year Gordonstoun and was invited to the royal’s wedding. She is separated from her husband but not divorced
WEDDING GUEST: Lindsay was pictured laughing and cheering (at the back wearing a cream-coloured top and a pink hat) at Zara’s wedding to rugby star Mike Tindall in 2011
ROYAL EVENT: Eight months later after Mr Phillips was spotted at Ms Wallace’s house, he brought her as his date to his nephew Lucas’s christening (pictured). The couple were photographed in a car together ahead of the Royal Family gathering
While it was thought Autumn might return to her native Canada, she continues to live on Princess Anne’s Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire – albeit in separate accommodation – so she can co-parent Savannah and Isla with Peter.
In March 2021, the royal made headlines when Phillips’s swanky black Range Rover parked on the driveway of Mrs Wallace’s £475,000 home in the village of St Cyrus near Montrose.
Peter was three years above Lindsay at Gordonstoun, the school also attended by Prince Philip and Prince Charles, but the pair are believed to have reconnected at a reunion.
Lindsay, who was born and raised in Scotland and whose parents are said to be ‘pillars of the community’, has remained a friend of his sister Zara. She was a guest at her 2011 Edinburgh wedding to rugby player Mike Tindall, where she was spotted in a pink hat and cream silk coat.
At the time of the March visit, Peter denied being in a relationship. But a source later said he was ‘besotted’ with his new girlfriend and they had bonded following the breakdown of their respective marriages.
However they have gone from strength to strength in the months since. The father-of-two reportedly introduced his new partner Lindsay to Her Majesty following a shooting party which was held at Windsor at the start of the year.
HANDS-ON DAD: In recent months, he has been stepping out solo at high profile royal events with his two young daughters, with whom he appears to enjoy a close relationship (pictured, at Prince Philips’ memorial service)
FAMILY OUTINGS: Less than a month later, the father-of-two stepped out again with his two young daughters as he joined other members of the royal family including Eugenie to attend the Easter service
A source told The Sun: ‘It was a very warm meeting and the Queen was clearly delighted to meet someone who makes Peter so happy.’
They added: ‘It may still be early days but Peter wanted his grandmother to see he was happy. It is a clear sign that Lindsay has now been firmly welcomed into The Firm and a major first step if they were to ever choose to get married.’
Eight months later, he brought Ms Wallace as his date to his nephew Lucas’s christening. The couple were photographed in a car together ahead of the Royal Family gathering.
Elegant in a cream coat and black hat, Ms Wallace was in the front seat by his side as he drove his 4×4 into the grounds at Windsor and looked down at her lap as cameras snapped photos of the royal arrivals.
A spokesman for Mr Phillips confirmed at the time that Ms Wallace had accompanied him to the joint christening of Zara and Mike Tindall’s son, Lucas, and Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s son, August, in Windsor.
SOLO OUTING: Peter Phillips was spotted chatting to his sister Zara and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at St Paul’s Cathedral. He attended the Service of Thanksgiving without Ms Wallace
Now Peter is adjusting to life in the spotlight without his wife Autumn by his side. In March, he attended Prince Philip’s memorial service solo, walking hand-in-hand with his young daughters on each side.
At the event, he was seen giggling and smiling with his daughters, with whom he appears to enjoy a particularly close relationship.
Meanwhile at Easter, he joined Princess Eugenie alongside his girls to walk to the Maundy Service with other members of the royal family. Ever the cool dad, he was chatting with his pre-teens as he entered the church alongside his cousin Eugenie.
Now it appears he has found a new companion who will perhaps accompany him to future royal events in the future.
While Ms Wallace did not attend the Queen’s Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on Thursday, Peter joined royals including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the event.
PDA: Peter placed a protective arm on a grinning Lindsay’s shoulder as they spoke during the Epsom Derby on Saturday
EASY-GOING: The two appeared relaxed, walking side by side as they took in the racecourse in Surrey on Saturday afternoon
MUM’S SEAL OF APPROVAL: Lindsay dazzled in a long-sleeved coral dress, which she paired with white shoes and a white clutch, while Peter looked dapper in morning dress. They joined Princess Anne at the event on Saturday
But over the weekend, Peter made his public debut with Lindsay at the Epsom Derby.
Lindsay dazzled in a long-sleeved coral Victoria Beckham dress, which she paired with white shoes and a white clutch, while Peter looked dapper in morning dress.
They were seen smiling and chatting animatedly as they watched the action with Princess Anne and Zara and Mike Tindall. At one point, Peter also placed a protective arm on a grinning Lindsay’s shoulder.
Next Lindsay accompanied Peter to the Platinum Party at Buckingham Palace, followed by an outing to the Platinum Pageant on Sunday.
Peter and Lindsay sat in the royal box alongside his daughters and senior members of the firm including Prince William, The Duchess of Cambridge and the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.
At one point the couple chatted to Princess Anne, who turned around in her seat to chat.
TIME FOR A CHAT: Lindsay then joined Peter alongside his children and other members of the royal family including Princess Anne (pictured) for the Platinum Jubilee concert outside Buckingham Palace on Saturday night
GLAMOROUS: Finally, she joined him at the Platinum Pageant – marking the third outing together over this Jubilee weekend
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