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Peter Phillips and estranged wife Autumn reach divorce settlement

The couple, who have two daughters aged 10 and nine, confirmed that they had resolved the financial aspects of their divorce 'amicably' -  Adam Davy/PA Archive
The couple, who have two daughters aged 10 and nine, confirmed that they had resolved the financial aspects of their divorce 'amicably' - Adam Davy/PA Archive

The Queen's grandson Peter Phillips and his estranged wife, Autumn, have agreed a divorce settlement, narrowly avoiding a courtroom showdown.

The couple, who have two daughters aged 10 and nine, confirmed that they had resolved the financial aspects of their divorce "amicably".

It came just hours after a five-day trial had been scheduled to begin at the High Court. It was called off minutes before it was due to start.

The couple announced last February that they were divorcing after 12 years of marriage.

A statement released on behalf of both parties on Monday said: "Mr Peter Phillips and Mrs Autumn Phillips are pleased to be able to report that the financial aspects of their divorce have been resolved through agreement, the terms of which have been approved and ordered by the High Court.

"Whilst this is a sad day for Peter and Autumn, they continue to put the wellbeing and upbringing of their wonderful daughters Savannah and Isla first and foremost.

"Both Peter and Autumn are pleased to have resolved matters amicably with the children firmly at the forefront of those thoughts and decisions."

Autumn and Peter Phillips, pictured in 2015 - Andrew Parsons/i-Images
Autumn and Peter Phillips, pictured in 2015 - Andrew Parsons/i-Images

The couple requested privacy and consideration for their children as the family "adapts to a new chapter in their lives".

A pre-trial review hearing was heard remotely before Mr Justice Peel in the Family Division in May, as lawyers for each party sought to separate their finances and agree a settlement.

Mr Phillips, 43, son of the Princess Royal and elder brother to Zara Tindall, applied for reporting restrictions barring the disclosure of financial and other personal details.

He retained Nicholas Yates QC, a leading divorce lawyer whose online profile says he handles "complex cases relating to significant assets and jurisdictional disputes" and also "leads negotiations in high-value postnuptial agreements".

Last year, he worked alongside Ayesha Vardag representing Bhanu Choudhrie, 41, an heir of one of India's richest families, in his divorce from Simrin Choudhrie, who sought £100 million.

As the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh's eldest grandchild, Mr Phillips walked behind his grandfather's coffin during his funeral procession in April, between the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex.

In March, he was accused of breaking lockdown restrictions by spending the night with female friend Lindsay Wallace, 40, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Police officers were said to have visited the pair and "issued advice", but concluded that no breach of rules had taken place.

Mr Phillips, a marketing consultant, was reported to have been in Scotland on business "in connection with his work for XF Medical which operates in the Covid testing arena".

He is listed on Companies House as event director of Festival of British Eventing Ltd. Accounts filed in October last year show the company made a loss of £26,412.

He and Mrs Phillips are directors of SEL UK, a sports and events firm which is a division of an Australian company set up in 2012 by a friend of his father, Captain Mark Phillips.

Accounts suggest the company's losses rose to over £300,000 in 2019.