Yesterday Peter Phillips and his wife Autumn confirmed that they were going to separate.
While the couple's decision to part ways to preserve "their two children and ongoing friendship" surprised some, the divorce had been in the works for some time.
The couple are said to have told the Queen about their plans to part ways during a private visit to Balmoral last summer.
Autumn later joined Her Majesty on a trip to church, where the head of state urged her and Peter not to make a hasty decision, MailOnline reports.
"I understand they told the Queen during a private visit to Balmoral late last summer," wrote Richard Kay, the paper's editor at large.
"During their stay, Autumn travelled to church with the Queen, who has grown very fond of her spirited granddaughter-in-law.
"She urged them not to make a hasty decision."
But the Queen's words proved not enough to save the union.
A statement issued on the couple's behalf read: "After informing HM The Queen and members of both families last year, Peter and Autumn jointly agreed to separate.
"They had reached the conclusion that this was the best course of action for their two children and ongoing friendship.
"The decision to divorce and share custody came about after many months of discussions and although sad, is an amicable one.
"The couple's first priority will remain the continued well being and upbringing of their wonderful daughters Savannah (nine) and Isla (seven).
"Both families were naturally sad at the announcement, but fully supportive of Peter and Autumn in the joint decision to co-parent their children.
"Both Peter and Autumn have remained in Gloucestershire to bring up their two children where they have been settled for a number of years.
"Peter and Autumn have requested privacy and compassion for their children while the family continues to adapt to these changes."
Canadian-born Autumn will not return to her home country, as had been previously speculated.
Some had suggested she would follow in Harry and Meghan's footsteps and head over the Atlantic, but instead she will remain in the UK to co-parent their children, Savannah and Isla.
At the moment she is living with the girls in a barn conversion on her mother-in-law Prince Anne's estate near Minchinhampton in Gloucestershire.
Peter is splitting his time between a flat in Kensington during the week and the Gloucestershire home on weekends.
According to one friend who spoke to The Sun, the royal was knocked back by his wife's split proposal.
"Peter is absolutely devastated by this and just didn’t see it coming," they said.
“She (Autumn) is a favourite of the Queen and I’m sure Her Majesty will be very upset by this as well.
“It’s the last thing she needs after all her recent troubles and you get the feeling that the Royal Family is falling apart a little bit.”
The couple are said to have told the Queen about their plans to part ways during a private visit to Balmoral last summer.
Autumn later joined Her Majesty on a trip to church, where the head of state urged her and Peter not to make a hasty decision, MailOnline reports.
"I understand they told the Queen during a private visit to Balmoral late last summer," wrote Richard Kay, the paper's editor at large.
"During their stay, Autumn travelled to church with the Queen, who has grown very fond of her spirited granddaughter-in-law.
"She urged them not to make a hasty decision."
But the Queen's words proved not enough to save the union.
A statement issued on the couple's behalf read: "After informing HM The Queen and members of both families last year, Peter and Autumn jointly agreed to separate.
"They had reached the conclusion that this was the best course of action for their two children and ongoing friendship.
"The decision to divorce and share custody came about after many months of discussions and although sad, is an amicable one.
"The couple's first priority will remain the continued well being and upbringing of their wonderful daughters Savannah (nine) and Isla (seven).
"Both families were naturally sad at the announcement, but fully supportive of Peter and Autumn in the joint decision to co-parent their children.
"Both Peter and Autumn have remained in Gloucestershire to bring up their two children where they have been settled for a number of years.
"Peter and Autumn have requested privacy and compassion for their children while the family continues to adapt to these changes."
Canadian-born Autumn will not return to her home country, as had been previously speculated.
Some had suggested she would follow in Harry and Meghan's footsteps and head over the Atlantic, but instead she will remain in the UK to co-parent their children, Savannah and Isla.
At the moment she is living with the girls in a barn conversion on her mother-in-law Prince Anne's estate near Minchinhampton in Gloucestershire.
Peter is splitting his time between a flat in Kensington during the week and the Gloucestershire home on weekends.
According to one friend who spoke to The Sun, the royal was knocked back by his wife's split proposal.
"Peter is absolutely devastated by this and just didn’t see it coming," they said.
“She (Autumn) is a favourite of the Queen and I’m sure Her Majesty will be very upset by this as well.
“It’s the last thing she needs after all her recent troubles and you get the feeling that the Royal Family is falling apart a little bit.”
No comments:
Post a Comment