Royal fans in shock as Queen's grandson 'splits' from wife of 12 years

The Queen’s grandson, Peter Phillips, is reportedly set to separate from his wife of 12 years, Autumn Phillips.

Princess Anne’s son, Peter, and Canadian native Autumn, who married in 2008, are parents to nine-year-old Savannah and seven-year-old Isla.

According to The Sun, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s recent break from the royal family and move to Canada is thought to have triggered the separation.

“Peter is absolutely devastated by this and just didn’t see it coming,” a source told The Sun.

“He thought he was happily married and had the perfect family with two lovely daughters. But he is now in total shock.

“Autumn is a wonderful wife and mother and a very intelligent woman but she’s been telling her friends for some time that there were issues.”

It’s believed Autumn wants to follow in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s footsteps, after the pair announced last month that they were quitting their roles as senior royals and moving to Canada.

According to friends, the Queen is ‘upset’ as Autumn was one of her favourites.

Peter and Autumn raised eyebrows in 2008, when they sold coverage of their wedding to HELLO! magazine for a reported $1 million.

The royal couple have been living on his mother, Princess Anne’s, Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershires since they tied the knot.

Peter Phillips’ Chinese milk ad

The news comes just days after it was revealed that Peter Phillips has been quietly earning some cold hard cash by endorsing a product overseas.

Peter was spotted by the Daily Mail making the most of his royal connections by appearing in at least two television adverts for a government-owned dairy company in China.

In the ads, the 42-year-old son of Anne, Princess Royal, is seen in and around the grounds of a regal-looking estate dressed in a smart three-piece suit, all while clutching a glass of Bright Dairy’s ‘Jersey Fresh Milk’.

“This is what I drink,” Peter states before taking a hearty gulp.

Elsewhere, Peter declares his love for the beverage which, according to the ads, is produced in China by ‘purebred’ British Jersey cows, a breed native to Jersey, in the Channel Islands.

“Bright Dairies has got a fantastic reputation all over China and outside of China as well, for producing high-quality dairy products,” Daily Mail quotes him as saying.

According to the publication, the TV spots were filmed sometime last year and are being aired on local Shanghai station Dragon TV.

Who is Peter Phillips?

Peter Phillips is the first child and only son of Princess Anne and her first husband Captain Mark Phillips and is the first cousin to Princes Harry and William.

When he was born, Peter was 15th in line to the throne, however, his parents broke with 500 years of tradition and decided not to give him nor his younger sister Zara Tindall, 38, royal titles.

The siblings are ‘private individuals’ and, like their cousin Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, are not addressed as ‘His/Her Royal Highness’ and are instead known simply by their Christian names.

Got a story tip or just want to get in touch? Email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com.