Why did Princess Anne and first husband Captain Mark Phillips divorce?

The highly anticipated return of the Netflix series “The Crown” will shed light on the events surrounding Princess Anne’s divorce from Captain Mark Phillips. While the show is a dramatized portrayal, the real-life separation of the Princess Royal from her first husband was a groundbreaking moment in royal history.

Princess Anne, the Queen’s second child and only daughter, married Mark Phillips in November 1973. The couple welcomed two children, Peter in 1977 and Zara in 1981, before announcing their separation in August 1989. This made Princess Anne the first child of the reigning monarch to end her marriage.

The divorce was finalized in 1992, and later that same year, Princess Anne remarried, tying the knot with naval officer Commander Timothy Laurence. This marked the first instance of a child of the British monarch remarrying after divorce, defying the Church of England’s stance at the time, as the 2002 law permitting such unions had not yet been enacted. Princess Anne circumvented this issue by holding her wedding to Timothy in Scotland.

The upcoming season of “The Crown” promises to delve into the intricacies of this historic event, offering viewers an inside look at the personal lives of the royal family and the societal implications of Princess Anne’s divorce and subsequent remarriage.

The alleged marital discord between Her Royal Highness, the Princess Royal, and Captain Mark Phillips shortly after the birth of their daughter, Zara, was a subject of widespread speculation. The couple’s infrequent public appearances together, coupled with the Princess’s demanding schedule of royal engagements, fueled rumors of strain in their relationship.

The former couple, who had exchanged vows in November 1973, often traveled abroad separately and were notably apart during their 15th wedding anniversary, further intensifying the speculation surrounding their marriage.

When Buckingham Palace officially confirmed their separation, the statement read: “Her Royal Highness, the Princess Royal, and Capt. Mark Phillips have decided to separate on terms agreed between them. There are no plans for divorce proceedings.”

At the time, it was reported that the terms of the separation were private, and that the Princess would continue to reside with their children at her residence in Gatcombe Park, a property gifted to the couple by Her Majesty the Queen in 1976. Additionally, it was stated that Captain Phillips, who had relocated to a farm two miles away on the Gatcombe Park estate, would maintain full access to the children.