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Peter Phillips, Princess Anne’s son and the eldest grandchild of The Queen, attended the black-tie Halberg Awards last night at Auckland’s Spark Arena, just days after confirming his split from his wife of 12 years, Autumn Phillips.
Peter looked in high spirits throughout the event, held to celebrate and honour New Zealand’s sporting excellence and posed for photos with Sir John Key, Richie McCaw and Team of the Year winners the Silver Ferns.
Peter Phillips and Sir John Key with the Silver Ferns at the 2020 Halberg Awards. (Image: Getty)
Earlier this week friends’ of the couple claimed Peter was left “devastated” when Autumn revealed her wish for a divorce.
Two days later Peter, 42, and Autumn, 41, confirmed the news in a statement saying “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.”
Adding, “The couple’s first priority will remain the continued wellbeing and upbringing of their wonderful daughters, Savannah and Isla.”
The statement also shared that Canadian-born Autumn would remain in Gloucestershire where the family has lived for a number of years with the couple co-parenting their nine- and seven-year-old daughters.
Autumn and Peter Phillips with their daughters Savannah and Isla at Trooping the Colour last year. (Image: Getty)
Peter Phillips, who is the elder brother of Zara Tindall, met Autumn Kelly in 2003 at the Montreal Grand Prix, where they were both working.
After several years of dating, the couple tied the knot in 2008 at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, with Peter being the first of the monarch’s grandchildren to get married.
The news of the couple’s divorce is just the latest in a string of upsets for the Queen and the Royal Family over the last 12 months and there’s no doubt the monarch is hoping the happy occasion of Princess Beatrice’s wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in May will help bring the family together and lift their spirits.
