What Princess Anne's new daughter-in-law really thinks of her: Harriet Sperling reveals nerves at first meeting with King's sister - but says 'straight-talking' royal is 'really good fun'

Harriet Sperling has revealed how she's negotiating life as the newest member of the Royal Family, almost six months after her summer wedding to Peter Phillips.In an interview with Hello! magazine, the 46-year-old former NHS specialist nurse singled out her new mother-in-law for particular praise. She said Princess Anne was 'well-respected', 'incredibly loyal' and 'really good fun', but also admitted she was a little nervous ahead of meeting the King's sister, 76, for the first time. Ms Sperling, who wed Peter Phillips on June 6 at All Saints Church in Kemble, Gloucestershire, in a ceremony she described as a 'slice of heaven', told the publication: 'There were always going to be initial nerves about meeting anyone’s family members, but I am quite a calm person.'Explaining that the encounter had taken place in the garden at Gatcombe Park, the Princess Royal's Gloucestershire estate, she said: 'It was really relaxed; we sat on garden benches having cups of tea. It couldn't have been nicer.'She added that she felt 'very lucky to be a part of the family', saying her new mother-in-law is 'brilliant, really good fun and straight-talking'.The ex-nurse also said Anne was 'incredibly generous', revealing how important that it was for the couple to have their wedding reception where Peter was raised, on the Gatcombe estate. A first meeting between Peter Phillips's then girlfriend, Harriet Sperling, and Princess Anne took place in the gardens of the royal's Gatcombe Park estate (Princess Anne, Harriet Sperling and Peter Phillips pictured at Ascot in June 2025)In her first interview since marrying the King's nephew, she also spoke of how impressed she was by Princess Anne's commitment to her life in public service, saying the royal set 'an amazing example with her work ethic' and gave 'tireless attention to local charities and her genuine interests.' The interview also saw Ms Sperling share that she has often turned to another family member since she began dating her husband in 2024, the 'open-hearted' Princess of Wales. Ms Sperling told the magazine that she'd bonded with the future King and Queen on holiday in the Scilly Isles.Her 14-year-old daughter Georgina also spent time with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, as Harriet recalled: 'It was great because the children were all jumping into the water at the same time.' She added: 'I can look to Catherine for advice and guidance. She's very open-hearted, and I would always feel comfortable asking her if I needed advice about something.'And the new royal also revealed that 'no one in our family' knew that Peter was planning to propose during a getaway to the south of England amid the heatwave last July, adding: 'I was completely overcome. It was the best-kept secret ever.' The couple were wed on June 6th and celebrated their reception at Gatcombe Park, with Ms Sperling describing her mother-in-law as 'incredibly generous' in letting the couple incorporate Peter's childhood home into their big dayPeter popped the question with a diamond sparkler from Pragnell, the royal jewellers that also designed Queen Elizabeth's 1946 engagement ring. Ms Sperling said he had the ring made beforehand and that she was 'completely overcome' when he went down on one knee on July 25, 2025, during their beach holiday. She said the proposal took her completely by surprise and described it as a 'magical moment for both of us'. Princess Anne's daughter-in-law told the publication the couple knew of each other through their daughters (Peter shares Savannah, 15, and Isla, 14, with his ex-wife Autumn Kelly) and mutual friends, but became friends while 'watching our children play hockey'. Five months after exchanging vows with her 'best friend' Peter, the new bride has also quit the NHS and taken up her first royal patronage in a move she described as a 'natural step, rather than a complete change of direction'. Ms Sperling, who specialised in infant mental health, announced she has become a patron of Home-Start Cotswolds, a charity that supports families with young children within the community.It comes after the couple carried out one of their first official outings as a married couple, when they attended a landmark art exhibition celebrating traditional Chinese craftsmanship in London in September. The couple were wed in front of a host of royals and socialites at All Saints Church, in Kemble near Cirencester, not far from Princess Anne's home at Gatcombe Park.Guests at their nuptials included the King and Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, as well as Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, with their respective husbands Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Jack Brooksbank. Harriet Sperling with Peter Phillips at the DMMI Royal Charity Polo Cup in July weeks after they tied the knot She bonded with the future King and Queen after they 'happened to be on holiday' in the Scilly Isles, Harriet told Hello! magazineMs Sperling wore a white Emilia Wickstead gown and the Pragnell family tiara, while her wedding train was held by her three bridesmaids, her daughter Georgina, 14, and Peter's children, Isla, 14, and Savannah, 15, with former wife Autumn Kelly, who all looked elegant in floral garlands and matching white dresses from the same designer.The new Mrs Peter Phillips made her official debut as a member of the Royal Family at Royal Ascot shortly after, when she joined her husband in the traditional carriage procession.The former paediatric nurse was the picture of elegance in a Suzannah London blue silk Biarritz dress and cream Jimmy Choo slingback heels as she took her place beside her new mother-in-law, Princess Anne, in the horse-drawn carriage.Aside from the wedding ring on her left hand, the biggest hint at Ms Sperling's recent nuptials came via the sky-blue Anya Hindmarch clutch bag she carried – embroidered with her new initials, HP.The full interview is available to read in Hello! magazine, out on stands now.