Mark Phillips

Captain Mark Anthony Peter Phillips, CVO, ADC(P) (born 22 September 1948) is an English Olympic gold-medal-winning horseman for Great Britain and ex-husband of Anne, Princess Royal, with whom he had two children. He remains a leading figure in British equestrian circles, a noted designer of showjumping circuits, and a columnist in Horse & Hound magazine.

Early life

Mark Phillips is the son of Major Peter William Garside Phillips (1920–1998),^[1] and Anne Patricia Phillips (née Tiarks)^[2] (1926–1988).

He was educated at Stouts Hill Preparatory School near Uley, Gloucestershire, and Marlborough College, then the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Military career

Upon passing out from Sandhurst, Phillips was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the Queen's Dragoon Guards in July 1969,^[3] After the expected period, he was promoted to Lieutenant in January 1971.^[4] By the start of 1974, Phillips was an acting Captain when he was appointed a Personal Aide-de-Camp to Queen Elizabeth II.^[5] Phillips was substantively promoted to captain in July 1975.^[6] Phillips retired from the Army on 30 March 1978.^[7]

After retiring from the Army, Phillips continued to style himself Captain Mark Phillips.^[8] Ordinarily, only Army officers of or above the rank of Major may use their rank when retired. However, retired junior cavalry officers whose civilian work involves equestrianism may continue to use their rank.^[9]

Equestrian career

Olympic medal record
Competitor for  Great Britain
Equestrian
Gold	1972 Munich	Team three-day event
Silver	1988 Seoul	Team three-day event

In 1972, Phillips was a member of the British three-day event team, which won the gold medal at the Munich Olympics. He won the Badminton Horse Trials in 1971 and 1972 riding Great Ovation, in 1974 on Colombus, and in 1981 on Lincoln. It was through his equestrian activities that he met Princess Anne, the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

In 1998, Phillips designed the cross-country venue for the Red Hills Horse Trials, a qualifying event for the Olympics located in Tallahassee, Florida, USA. He is now a regular columnist in Horse & Hound magazine. He also remains a leading figure in British equestrian circles, and presently serves as Chef d'Equipe of the United States Eventing Team.^[10]

Personal life

Phillips married Princess Anne on 14 November 1973, at Westminster Abbey,^[11] 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 declined. This may also have been the specific wish of Princess Anne.^{[citation needed]} (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".

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.^{[12][13][14][15]} The Prince of Wales is believed to have originated the nickname "Fog" on the grounds that he was "thick and wet".^[16][17]

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.^[18] 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.^[19][20]

On 1 February 1997, Phillips married Sandy Pflueger, an American dressage rider. Their daughter Stephanie was born on 2 October 1997.^[20]

On 3 May 2012, it was confirmed by Capt Phillips' solicitors 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 who, at 35 years of age, is some four months younger than his son. The couple are reported to be planning to live together in Wellington, Florida.^[21]

Phillips' personal wealth is thought to be in the range of £15-20 million, although he gained only a low settlement when his marriage to Anne, Princess Royal ended.^[17]

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Military ranks

• Captain (Retired), late Queen's Dragoon Guards

Honours

See also List of honours of the British Royal Family by country

Orders

• Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO)

Honorary military appointments

• 1 February 1984 – : Personal Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty The Queen (AdC(P))

Arms

Arms of Mark Phillips Notes 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.:[22] He was granted hereditary supporters a rare privilege for untitled people. 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.:[22]

Issue

Footnotes