Harriet Sperling, the soon-to-be wife of Princess Anne’s son, has joined the royal family at Balmoral for their summer break, with Jennie Bond revealing the gravity of the exclusive invitation
Peter Phillips and his fiancée Harriet Sperling have travelled to Balmoral to spend some quality time with the royal family as part of a long-standing summer tradition.
Princess Anne’s son proposed to the NHS nurse at the beginning of August , and with a royal wedding now looming, the invitation to Balmoral has been seen as a sign that Harriet is receiving her official royal initiation.
While many have speculated that Harriet could be undergoing the infamous ‘Balmoral test’ , former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond has claimed the happy couple’s trip to the Scottish Highlands will be much more laid back than royal fans may think.
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Jennie Bond told the Mirror that by receiving an invitation to spend the last of summer at the Aberdeenshire estate, it proves that she has already made a greatly positive impact on the royal family at large.
She said: “Harriet is clearly quite a hit with the Royal family, and being invited to share their special holiday time at Balmoral certainly proves it. Their annual stay in Scotland is precious family time when they relax, drop some of the formalities of Royal life and just enjoy being together and having fun in the great outdoors.”
Many have claimed that while in Scotland, Harriet may be enduring the ‘Balmoral test’, which was portrayed in the Netflix series The Crown, but Jennie has quickly put those rumours to bed.
Rather than undergoing some kind of intense initiation, the royal expert believes Harriet would simply be enjoying getting to spend some quality time with the royal family, away from the pressure of the public eye where she can be her authentic self.
Jennie said: “The infamous so-called ‘Balmoral Test’ doesn’t really exist: people really shouldn’t believe what they see in The Crown. As at any well-established family gathering, a newcomer like Harriet will have to discover just how she fits in and who she gels with best.
“But the idea that they all sit around waiting for her to put a foot wrong or that they come to some sort of unanimous verdict about her is pure fiction.”
While Harriet would no doubt be putting her best foot forward now that she is engaged to be married into the royal family, Jennie said her first impressions with her soon-to-be in-laws have already cemented the fact that the Firm has a great relationship with the NHS nurse.
Harriet’s appearances at some key royal events have shown her mingling and laughing with Princess Anne and King Charles, showcasing how comfortable she feels alongside the royal family, regardless of the pomp and pageantry.
Jennie said: “From what we’ve seen – particularly at Royal Ascot – the King already gets on very well with Harriet and it looks as if Zara and some of the younger generation enjoy her company.
“I’m sure she will have been a bit nervous about staying at Balmoral – it is, after all, a pretty exclusive invitation. But she strikes me as a confident young woman who will be able to take her place in the extended Royal family without any problems.”
Peter and Harriet announced their engagement on August 1 after just one year of dating. A statement on behalf of the couple read: “Mr Peter Phillips, the son of HRH The Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips and Ms Harriet Sperling, daughter of the late Mr Rupert Sanders and Mrs Mary Sanders of Gloucestershire, have today confirmed their official engagement.
“Both families were informed jointly of the announcement and were delighted with the wonderful news of their engagement. Their Majesties The King and Queen, The Prince and Princess of Wales have been informed of the announcement. No date has been officially set for the wedding.”