Harriet Phillips 'would always feel comfortable' asking Kate Middleton for 'advice' after being welcomed into Royal Family
The NHS nurse has also revealed how she and the Princess of Wales met for the first time during a 'very casual' moment on holiday
The idea of marrying into the Royal Family would be daunting to many of us but Princess Anne's daughter-in-law Harriet feels she's been warmly welcomed by her illustrious in-laws. She married Peter Phillips in a private ceremony in June that was attended by almost all of his cousins and their spouses, including the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Prince William and Peter have always been close and Kate knows all too well what it's like to suddenly be thrust into the spotlight. She's perfectly placed to offer Harriet advice and the NHS nurse has just revealed that she'd be totally "comfortable" reaching out to her.
In her first ever interview, Harriet Phillips told Hello!, "I've had an incredible experience being welcomed in. We happened to be on holiday in the same place. It was great because the children were all jumping into the water at the same time."
"It was very casual but there is a clear level of respect there," she added, before describing the Princess of Wales as "open-hearted" and saying she'd "always feel comfortable asking her if [she] needed advice about something". Even though Kate is such a senior royal, it sounds like she's gone out of her way to put Harriet at ease.
Her perspective as an outsider marrying into The Firm is naturally different, as William is first in the royal line of succession and Peter has no title and isn't a working royal. Because of this, Harriet faces less scrutiny, but it's still a lot to get used to and Kate can empathise and perhaps anticipate moments where she might want extra guidance.
This December will be Harriet's first festive season since becoming Mrs Phillips and will also possibly be her first Christmas at Sandringham House. Very few partners have been invited to celebrate there before being married, one being Meghan Markle.
Queen Elizabeth made a rare exception for the then-newly-engaged Meghan in 2017, but traditionally it's spouses only and Kate was "worried" about what to give the monarch for her first royal Christmas in 2011. In the end, she famously made her granny's chutney recipe and on the Our Queen at Ninety documentary, said the Queen had it put on the table the next day.
"I think such a simple gesture went such a long way for me," the Princess of Wales explained.
Kate has first-hand experience of what small, thoughtful gestures like this can mean and maybe she will be the person who does something like this for Harriet. She and her fellow royals certainly seem to have welcomed Peter's wife with open arms and she's also embraced them and shown her respect for their traditions too.
Her wedding flowers included myrtle, which has featured in royal bouquets since 1858. Lily of the Valley also featured and was one of Queen Elizabeth's favourites. She had it in her coronation bouquet and carried a spray of them at her wedding to Prince Philip.
"Lily of the valley was definitely requested for its regal connotation. Myrtle is a symbol of beauty, grace and love and was requested on the same basis," floral designer Millie Richardson claimed to The Telegraph.
