In a forgotten storage cupboard in a London publisher's warehouse, there may be explosive negatives showing Queen Elizabeth doing the Nutbush. That shocking scene took place at the 2008 wedding reception of her eldest grandchild, Peter Phillips, and Canadian Autumn Kelly. This weekend, Peter will marry again, this time to public health nurse Harriet Sperling, in a private ceremony with biodegradable confetti and family bonhomie. However, this second wedding will be a far cry from 2008, when a controversial $941,000 payment rocked the royal family and exposed the Windsors to an unprecedented degree.
The 2008 Wedding: A Lavish Affair
Peter Phillips' 2008 wedding was a lavish affair, but the course of true love and moneymaking never runs smooth. The soon-to-be newlyweds decided to use the occasion to fatten their bank account by inking a nearly $1 million deal (£500,000) with Hello! magazine to allow photographers into the event. This represented a breach of the royal family's private lives that had never before been seen by the public.
The Fallout
The storm broke three days after the wedding when Hello! hit the newsstands, stuffed with hundreds of highly personal photos of not only Peter and Autumn but also Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, and royal girlfriends Kate Middleton and Chelsy Davy. The images offered a glimpse of the Windsors unlike any other: Prince Harry and Chelsy getting handsy, Harry looking like he was gagging for a cigarette, and Kate cutting shapes on the dance floor.
Prince Harry was said to be absolutely furious, according to Tom Sykes, host of the Royalist podcast. The royal family understood that some shots would end up in the magazine, but they thought they would be the boring wedding album and formal group shots. Instead, the candid photos went way further than that, leaving them feeling betrayed.
Kate Middleton's Appearance
Making the royal family's appearance in Hello! an even bigger story was the presence of Kate Middleton in the shots. The wedding was the first major royal family event she had ever attended, marking her official introduction to the late Queen. The year before, in 2007, she and Prince William had broken up, and her inclusion on the guest list confirmed they were back together, ratcheting up speculation that they were next to get hitched.
The Palace wasted no time briefing that Queen Elizabeth had known nothing about the deal. A senior royal source made clear to the Telegraph, "It will never ever happen again. In hindsight it should never have happened in the first place."
Political Reaction
Politicians soon took up the cudgel. Labour MP Ian Gibson said, "The British public would expect the Queen to rise above being pictured in the pages of Hello! She is the Queen, not a footballer's wife."
The Upcoming Wedding
This Saturday, when Peter and Harriet marry, it will be an entirely private affair, with King Charles, Queen Camilla, William, Kate, and their children all set to attend. As the Telegraph's royal editor Hannah Furness put it, "they've probably learned their lesson on that front. Hopefully."
So, we will have to remain totally in the dark as to whether the Princess of Wales is still such a demon on the dance floor. Let's all assume yes, shall we?
Daniela Elser is an editor and commentator with more than 15 years' experience working with a number of Australia's leading media titles.
