Captain Mark Anthony Peter Phillips, CVO, ADC(P) 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 eventing course designer,
and a columnist in Horse & Hound magazine.
Early life Mark Phillips is the son of Major Peter William
Garside Phillips, and Anne Patricia Phillips.
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, After the expected period, he was promoted to Lieutenant
in January 1971.
By the start of 1974, Phillips was an acting Captain when he was appointed a Personal Aide-de-Camp
to Queen Elizabeth II.
Phillips was substantively promoted to captain in July 1975.
Phillips retired from the Army on 30 March 1978.
After retiring from the Army, Phillips continued to style himself Captain Mark Phillips.
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.
Equestrian career Phillips was a reserve member of the British
equestrian team for the 1968 Olympics.
He was part of the British three-day event teams that won a world title in 1970, a European
title in 1971 and Olympic gold medals in 1972; individually he finished in 35th place in
1972.
At the 1988 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 the Badminton Horse Trials, in 1971–72 on Great Ovation,
in 74 on Colombus and 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.
Their daughter Zara won a silver medal in the three-day event with the British team
in 2012.
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 serves as Chef d'Equipe
of the United States Eventing Team.
Personal life
Phillips married Princess Anne on 14 November 1973, at Westminster Abbey.
They have 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.
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.
The Prince of Wales is believed to have originated the nickname "Foggy" on the grounds that he
was "thick and wet".
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.
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.
On 1 February 1997, Phillips married Sandy Pflueger, an American Olympic dressage rider.
Their daughter Stephanie was born on 2 October 1997.
On 3 May 2012, it was confirmed by Capt Phillips' solicitors that Phillips and Pflueger had
separated, intending to divorce.
Phillips is reported to be in a relationship with US show jumping rider Lauren Hough who,
at 35 years of age, is four months younger than his son.
The couple are reported to be planning to live together in Wellington, Florida.
Phillips' personal wealth is thought to be in the range of £15–20 million, although
he gained only a small settlement when his marriage to Anne, Princess Royal ended.
Titles, styles, honours and arms Military ranks
Captain, 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
Honorary military appointments 1 February 1984 – : Personal Aide-de-Camp
to Her Majesty The Queen) Arms
Issue References