Peter Phillips looks cheerful as he joins Natalie Pinkham at Royal Ascot

The Queen‘s eldest grandson Peter Phillips appeared to be in good spirits today as he attended Ladies Day at Royal Ascot. 

Peter, 43, was spotted enjoying a playful chat with F1 presenter Natalie Pinkham, who is a close friend of his sister Zara Tindall, in his first public outing since his divorce was finalised earlier this week. 

The royal officially split with wife Autumn, 42, – with whom he has daughters Savannah, nine, and Isla, seven – after telling their families of their ‘amicable’ decision to end their marriage two years ago. 

But today the royal appeared relaxed and joyful as he cheered on runners during the event, and could be seen sharing friendly chats with his fellow guests in the Royal Box. 

Mother-of-two Natalie, who is married to television executive Owain Walbyoff, once dated Prince Harry, but these days her relationships with the royal family are purely platonic, and she’s a close friend of both Zara Tindall and Princes Eugenie, having attended both their weddings. 

The royal cut a handsome figure in a black tailcoat paired with a grey waistcoat, purple tie and pink rose boutonnière. 

Mother-of-three Zara, 40, donned a chic floral number by Erdem with an eye-catching bespoke hat by Sarah Cant and her trusty RayBan sunglasses, while Natalie opted for a chic monochrome ensemble paired with a matching headdress. 

Peter, who will continue living in Gloucestershire to co-parent his daughters-  announced the finalisation of his divorce on Monday, and said it was ‘the best course of action for their two children and ongoing friendship’. 

A statement, released by a spokesperson on behalf of the couple, 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 today.

‘Whilst this is a sad day for Peter and Autumn, they continue to put the wellbeing 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.

‘Peter and Autumn have requested privacy and consideration for their children as the family adapts to a new chapter in their lives.’ 

The breakdown of Autumn and Peter’s marriage will be particularly painful for the Queen, 95, who enjoys a close relationship with her grandson’s wife.

Last year an unnamed friend of the couple told the Sun: ‘Autumn is a favourite of the Queen and I’m sure Her Majesty will be very upset by this as well. It’s the last thing she needs after all her recent troubles and you get the feeling that the Royal Family is falling apart a little bit.’   

Peter and Autumn, who stay largely out of the media spotlight, were last seen publicly together when they joined the Queen and Prince Charles at the annual Highland Games Gathering at Braemar in September 2019.

They did not join the royal family for the Christmas Day church service at Sandringham. Peter Phillips was seen without his wife as he arrived at church on the Norfolk estate during a stay in January 2020.   

Peter has enjoyed a decidedly more low-key life than his cousins Prince William and Prince Harry that started with his mother Princess Anne’s decision not to give him and his younger sister Zara, now married to Mike Tindall, any royal titles.