Mark Anthony Peter Phillips (born 22 September 1948) is an EnglishOlympic gold medal-winning horseman forGreat Britain and the first husband ofAnne, Princess Royal, with whom he has two children. He remains a leading figure in Britishequestrian circles, a noted eventing course designer, and a columnist forHorse & Hound magazine.
Mark Anthony Peter Phillips was born on 22 September 1948. He is the son of Major Peter William Garside Phillips,MC (1920–1998)[1] and Anne Patricia Phillips (née Tiarks;[2] 1925–1988);[1] they married in 1946. Major Peter Phillips was the younger son ofJoseph Herbert Phillips and grandson ofWilliam Garside Phillips. Anne Phillips was educated atDowne House and served in theWomen's Royal Naval Service during theSecond World War.[2] She was the only daughter of John Gerhard Edward Tiarks (1896–1962), who served in theFirst and Second World Wars, attained the rank ofBrigadier, and Evelyn Florence Cripps (1899–1994); John Tiarks also served asaide-de-camp toKing George VI from 1947 to 1950. Mark had a younger sister, Sarah Anne Staples (née Phillips; 1951–2014).[3]
Phillips continued to style himselfCaptain Mark Phillips,[11] as it is usual for retired cavalry captains to keep using their former rank if their civilian job involves working with horses, in particular in racing or equestrian sports.[12]
Phillips was a reserve member of the British equestrian team for the1968 Olympics. He was part of the Britishthree-day event teams that won a world title in 1970, a European title in 1971, and Olympic gold medals in1972; individually, he finished in 35th place in 1972. At the1988 Olympics, his horse sustained a pulled muscle and could not complete the individual three-day event, but Phillips won a silver medal with the British team. Phillips was a four-time champion at theBadminton Horse Trials, in 1971 and 1972 onGreat Ovation, in 1974 onColombus, and in 1981 onLincoln. It was through his equestrian activities that he met Princess Anne, the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II andPrince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whom he married. Their own daughterZara Phillips later won a silver medal in thethree-day event with the British team at the2012 Olympics inLondon.[4]
Phillips first met his future wife Princess Anne at a party for horse lovers in 1968.[16] They married on 14 November 1973, atWestminster Abbey.[17] They have two children:Peter (born 1977) andZara (born 1981). The Queen boughtGatcombe Park, nearMinchinhampton, for the couple as a wedding present.[18][19]
In August 1989, the Princess Royal and Phillips announced their intention to separate, as the marriage had been under strain for a number of years.[20] The couple had rarely been seen in public together, and both were romantically linked with other people.[21] They continued to share the custody of their children, and initially announced that "there were no plans for divorce."[22][23] Meanwhile, Phillips continued to work at the couple's estate at Gatcombe Park.[22] In 1991, aDNA test confirmed that Phillips had fathered a girl, Felicity Tonkin, born in August 1985 in New Zealand to art teacher Heather Tonkin.[24] Phillips and Princess Anne divorced on 23 April 1992.[25][26]
On 1 February 1997, Phillips marriedSandy Pflueger, an American Olympicdressage rider. Their daughter Stephanie was born on 2 October 1997.[26] She grew up at Aston Farm, Gatcombe Park, close to the family of Princess Anne, and served as a bridesmaid at the wedding of her half-sisterZara Tindall. In 2000, Phillips was appointed an Honorary Liveryman of theWorshipful Company of Farmers.
On 3 May 2012, it was confirmed by Phillips' solicitors that Phillips and Pflueger had separated, intending to divorce, with Phillips becoming involved with American equestrianLauren Hough.[27]
Phillips' personal wealth is thought to be around £15–20 million.[28] The settlement he received when his marriage to Princess Anne ended was described as "modest"[28] and reported to be around "$3 million".[29]
These arms were granted to Peter Phillips, the father of Captain Mark Phillips, in October 1973. Mark used these arms differenced with a three point label until he inherited the undifferenced arms from his father in 1998.[36] He was grantedhereditary supporters, a rare privilege for untitled people.[citation needed]
Crest
On a Wreath of the colours, a spur rowed upward or, winged argent, enclosing a lozenge sable.
Escutcheon
Per chevron azure and Or, in chief a horse courant argent, and in base a sprig of forget-me-not flowers, slipped and leaved proper.[36]
Supporters
On the dexter side a winged lion, and on the sinister side a winged horse Argent, each gorged with a representation of the Coronet of HRH The Princess Anne proper.
^Morgan, Gwen."A Royal Wedding Album". Chicago Tribune 15 November 1973.Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved4 March 2016.The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Michael Ramsey, blesses Princess Ann and Capt. Mark Phillips....
^ab"Royal scandal: Zara Tindall's 'secret' nephew born in NZ".The New Zealand Herald. 19 August 2017.Archived from the original on 10 October 2022. Retrieved24 June 2022.A DNA test in 1991 confirmed Phillips as her father, paving the way for a reported £350,000 settlement from Phillips, money which helped pay for fees at one of Auckland's finest private schools and some profitable property investments to secure Felicity's future.
^Brozan, Nadine (24 April 1992)."Chronicle".New York Times.Archived from the original on 3 April 2024. Retrieved17 February 2017.
United Kingdom
British Army
15 August 1974:Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO)[31][32]
6 February 1977:Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal[33]
6 February 2002:Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal[34]
6 February 2012:Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal[34]
6 February 2022:Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal[35]
6 May 2023:King Charles III Coronation Medal
Norway: Commander with Star of theRoyal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav, 13 April 1988.[33]
