As Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling celebrated their wedding on Saturday, much of the spotlight naturally fell on the newlyweds. Yet royal watchers also found themselves drawn to a familiar face among the bridal party: Peter’s daughter Isla, who many believe bears a remarkable resemblance to her late great-grandfather, Prince Philip.
‘The only one that truly resembles him’
Isla, 14, appeared alongside her sister Savannah, 15, and Georgina, 14, as bridesmaids at the ceremony held at All Saints Church in Kemble. While the three girls were all smiles on the day, it was Isla in particular who caught the attention of eagle-eyed fans, with several taking to social media to point out how closely she resembles the Duke of Edinburgh in his younger years.
Many say she closely resembles Prince Philip
Over time, Princess Anne’s granddaughter has frequently been compared to Prince Philip, especially in photographs that highlight what fans describe as their shared fair complexion, blonde hair, defined jawline and almond-shaped eyes. After the weekend wedding, Instagram users once again revived the comparison, with some going so far as to call the pair “twins.”
Fellow royal fans agreed with the comparison, with one person writing: ‘Yes agree, the cheekbones the nose and the mouth.’ ‘Wow, those genetics from her great-grandfather,’ another said. A third commented: ‘She is lovely and Prince Phillip was so handsome!’ However other commenters claimed Isla also shares features with her grandmother, Princess Anne. ‘I find her identical to Anne Princess Royal when she was young,’ one wrote, while another commented: ‘I see Princess Anne.’ Isla was born at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital on March 29 2012, weighing 7lbs 4oz. A statement released by the Palace at the time expressed how the entire Royal Family were ‘delighted’ by the arrival of a second great-grandchild for Elizabeth and Philip.
Named in honor of Queen Elizabeth
Given the adorable young royal was born during the Queen’s milestone Jubilee year it seems somewhat unsurprising that her second name is Elizabeth – a fitting tribute to her beloved great-grandmother. She is 20th in line to the throne and, as a result, has been able to enjoy being a member of the extended royal family without managing the pressures of royal duties. On Saturday, Isla, Savannah and Georgina exuded elegance and sophistication as they arrived for their parents’ highly-anticipated royal wedding attended by numerous members of the Firm. While the three girls are now formally sisters, the teenage trio have known each other for several years, having been on the same hockey team. It is, however, understood that Georgina only met the Royal Family at Balmoral last year. Now, Georgina, who was raised by single mother Harriet, 45, will likely be thrilled to have Savannah and Isla as both sisters and firm friends.
‘Breath of fresh air’
According to royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams, the three girls are a much-needed ‘breath of fresh air’ as they lead the only generation of the Royal Family who are unscathed by the ongoing scandal of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson’s relationship with the [child predator] financier, Jeffrey Epstein. Everyone from the late Queen to her children King Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Edwards, and some of her grandchildren, namely Prince William, Beatrice and Eugenie, have been drawn into the saga. Amid calls for titles to be relinquished and statements to be made about who knew what about Andrew, the next generation down can hardly be tarnished by the misdeeds of their great-uncle. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Fitzwilliams said: ‘Little attention has so far been paid to Isla Phillips, yet, considering her antecedents, she is likely to make her mark on royal life. Her generation should be free of the scandals that are currently causing problems for the thousand-year-old institution of monarchy. It should be a breath of fresh air as the Royal Family moves with the times and each generation has something new to give in an environment which is constantly changing but always pressurised.’
‘Isla is Queen Elizabeth’s great-grandchild, the daughter of Peter and Autumn, who are divorced. Savannah, who is 15, is her sibling. The family have a healthy disregard for titles – with Princess Anne having sensibly decided that her children, Peter and Zara, would be better off without them. ‘As titles usually pass through the male line, Peter and Zara were not automatically entitled to them, and so she did not inherit a rank from her father. However, what Peter did pass down may well prove to be far more valuable than rank: the family’s love of equestrian activities. Her grandmother, Princess Anne, and her aunt Zara are famous for their equestrian feats, and this has led to them being extremely popular. Isla reportedly goes riding with Princess Anne on the Gatcombe Park estate most days. She has also attended important equestrian events such as the Badminton and Gatcombe Horse Trials and the Blenheim International Horse Trials. It will be fascinating to see if she, too, specialises in equestrian activities. Image is most important and she has a remarkable resemblance to her glamorous aunt Zara.’
