Royal wedding bells will ring for Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling next weekend, marking not just the start of married life for the happy couple, but also the official arrival of a new, close companion for the Princess of Wales.

Take one look at the NHS nurse fiancée of Princess Anne’s son, and it’s not difficult to understand why she’ll be a celebrated new arrival for Kate.

Not only are Kate and Harriet of similar backgrounds, with both hailing from upper-middle-class families in neighbouring Berkshire and Gloucestershire, respectively, but they’re also of a similar age, with Harriet being one year older at 45.

Both also have a keen interest in fashion, each owning an unmistakably similar wardrobe filled with brands like Beulah, ME+ EM and Self Portrait.

And it seems the nurse already has ‘the Kate effect’ after she displayed her style flair in a romantic fuchsia dress from the ethical brand Dilli Grey, known for handmade clothing crafted by artisans in India. Dilli Grey experienced a surge in demand for the dress following Harriet’s appearance, prompting them to release an updated version.

Their interests, meanwhile, are similarly intertwined: Kate is an avid supporter of all things childhood development with her Early Years work, while Harriet is a trained paediatric nurse specialist – and according to an online bio, ‘passionate about early brain development in babies and seeing children thrive’.

In 2010, Harriet was a key member of a team of medics, doctors and clinicians who helped save the life of a critically ill baby, named Phineas, after he was struck down by a deadly virus at just three weeks.

Enter the future Mrs Phillips, a like-minded, discreet ally for Kate – a relationship she’s scarcely enjoyed, given Meghan is living in Montecito, having waved goodbye to royal life, while Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have been shrouded in scandal since the House of York’s associations with paedophile financier, Jeffrey Epstein, came to light.

Harriet Sperling (pictured at Royal Ascot last year) will tie the knot to Peter Phillips in a service next weekend – a decision that’s no doubt delighted the Princess of Wales

In addition to their similar senses of style, Kate (pictured at the Order of the Garter Service at Windsor Castle last year) and Harriet have shared values

Harriet is a talented freelance writer and recently contributed a candid essay to Woman Alive, detailing her experiences as a single mother and her unwavering Christian faith.

‘My daughter and I journeyed 10 years with only each other. I liken us to an island and it has often felt hard to imagine anyone joining that island,’ she wrote.

‘The unique relationship between a single mother and her child is forged in the fires of struggles and victories. It’s a bond characterised by love and survival against the odds.

‘This journey has deepened my faith, teaching me to trust in God’s plan and to find strength in his love.’

Writing is a skill Kate also possesses, having penned a moving essay, The Power of Human Connection in a Distracted World, via the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.

The article, written in collaboration with Harvard Professor Robert Waldinger, discussed the potential harms, or ‘epidemic of disconnection’, of smartphones and social media.

Meanwhile, Harriet’s open-armed acceptance into the Royal Family ahead of her engagement last August appears similar to that of Kate’s experience.

Harriet was seen laughing with King Charles and chatting with Zara Tindall at Royal Ascot last year. She was given the ultimate seal of approval as she arrived at the racecourse in Berkshire in the official carriage procession with senior royals.

Princess Anne’s son and his NHS nurse fiancée will tie the knot next weekend in a service attended by multiple senior royals

Pictured: Harriet is seen walking behind the Princess of Wales and other senior members of the Royal Family at the Easter Service in Windsor Castle this year

Kate, meanwhile, quickly gained a deep sense of respect from senior members of the Royal Family, including the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Now a regular at Wimbledon and Cheltenham alike, Harriet has earned praise for her fashion choices that appear to be inspired by the Princess of Wales’s immaculate royal style.

For her first royal Easter service, Harriet took a leaf out of Kate’s playbook as she wore pieces from four of her favourite brands – and her wedding dress next weekend will no doubt be an even bigger hit.

Peter and Harriet officially announced their engagement in August last year after first being linked in May 2024. In a statement to announce the joyous news, they said both families were ‘delighted’.

The wedding will mark a new chapter for Peter following the breakdown of his marriage to Canadian-born Autumn Kelly.

They married in a lavish 2008 ceremony at St George’s Chapel and later welcomed daughters Savannah, now 15, and Isla, 14, before separating in 2019. Their divorce was finalised in 2021.

Harriet, who has a 13-year-old daughter named Georgina from her first marriage, has quickly become a familiar and warmly received face within royal circles.

Earlier this year, the couple appeared happier than ever as they attended the Cheltenham Festival alongside Zara and Mike.

Peter looked visibly smitten as Harriet proudly displayed her engagement ring – a sparkling design said to contain a touching tribute to the late Elizabeth II, having been created by the same jeweller behind the Queen’s iconic 1946 engagement ring.

Harriet herself also boasts wealthy connections, sharing a relation to the Duke of Gloucester through her late father, Rupert Sanders.

Royal biographer Richard Fitzwilliams has suggested the upcoming ceremony will be markedly different from Peter’s first wedding, which reportedly left sections of the Royal Family ‘bewildered’.

Now, with nearly all senior royals expected to gather in the Cotswolds next weekend, Peter and Harriet’s wedding is shaping up to be one of the most significant private Royal Family celebrations of the year.