Personal Life
Phillips married Princess Anne on 14 November 1973, at Westminster Abbey, and had two children:
- Peter Mark Andrew Phillips, born 1977
- Zara Anne Elizabeth Phillips, born 1981
The Queen is believed to have offered him a peerage on his wedding day, which he turned down. This may also have been the specific wish of Princess Anne. (As female-line grandchildren of the Sovereign, Princess Anne's children were never eligible for the style "Royal Highness" or the title "Prince/Princess" under the terms of George V's letters patent of 1917). If Phillips held a peerage, however, his children with Princess Anne would have been entitled to be addressed as "The Honourable", or as "Lord" or "Lady". In the case of the Queen's sister, The Princess Margaret, her ex-husband, Anthony Armstrong-Jones, became the Earl of Snowdon upon marriage, with the subsidiary title, Viscount Linley. As a result, Lord Snowdon's son, David, is entitled use "Viscount Linley" as a courtesy title, and David's children, Charles and Margarita are addressed as "The Honourable". Zara and Peter do not hold royal styles or aristocratic honours but by virtue of their royal bloodline they are in the line of succession to the Commonwealth realms.
The Queen bought the couple Gatcombe Park near Minchinhampton as a wedding present. Several sources, including Nicholas Davies' book Queen Elizabeth II: A Woman Who Is Not Amused have attempted to cast doubt on whether Phillips fathered his daughter Zara.
In August 1985 Phillips fathered a daughter, Felicity, as a result of an extramarital affair with New Zealand art teacher Heather Tonkin. Phillips was confirmed as the father as a result of DNA testing during a paternity suit in 1991. In 1989 the Princess Royal and Mark Phillips announced their intention to separate, as the marriage had been under strain for a number of years. The couple divorced on 23 April 1992.
On 1 February 1997, Phillips married Sandy Pflueger, an American dressage rider. Their daughter Stephanie was born on 2 October 1997.
On 3 May 2012, it was confirmed by Capt Phillips' solicitors at the law firm CKFT that Phillips and Pflueger had separated, intending to divorce. Phillips is presently reported to be in a relationship with US show jumping rider Lauren Hough, at 35 some four months younger than his son. The couple are reported to be planning to live together in Wellington, Florida.
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