Mark Phillips

Mark Anthony Peter Phillips was born on 22 September 1948. He is the son of Major Peter William Garside Phillips, MC (1920–1998), and Anne Patricia Phillips (née Tiarks; 1925–1988). His father was the younger son of Joseph Herbert Phillips and grandson of William Garside Phillips. His mother served in the Women’s Royal Naval Service during the Second World War and was the only daughter of John Gerhard Edward Tiarks, who served in the First and Second World Wars and attained the rank of Brigadier, and Evelyn Florence Cripps. John Tiarks also served as aide-de-camp to King George VI from 1947 to 1950.

Mark Phillips was educated at Stouts Hill Preparatory School near Uley, Gloucestershire, followed by Marlborough College, and trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards in July 1969 and was promoted to Lieutenant in January 1971. By the time of his marriage to Princess Anne in November 1973, he held the rank of acting Captain. In January 1974, he was appointed a Personal aide-de-camp to Queen Elizabeth II. He was promoted to captain in July 1975 and retired from the Army on 30 March 1978. Post-retirement, he retained the style of Captain Mark Phillips, as is customary for retired cavalry officers involved in horse-related professions.

As an equestrian athlete, Phillips was a reserve member of the British team for the 1968 Olympics. He competed in three-day eventing and was part of the British teams that won the world title in 1970, a European title in 1971, and the Olympic gold medal in 1972. Individually, he finished 35th at the 1972 Olympics. At the 1988 Olympics, he earned a silver medal as part of the British team despite his horse's injury preventing individual competition. He is a four-time champion at the Badminton Horse Trials, winning in 1971 and 1972 on Great Ovation, in 1974 on Colombus, and in 1981 on Lincoln.

Phillips met Princess Anne at a horse lovers’ party in 1968. He married her on 14 November 1973 at Westminster Abbey. They have two children: Peter Phillips, born in 1977, and Zara Tindall, born in 1981. Gatcombe Park was acquired by the Queen as a wedding present for the couple.

In 1998, Phillips designed the cross-country venue for the Red Hills Horse Trials in Tallahassee, Florida. He is a columnist for Horse & Hound magazine and serves as Chef d'Equipe of the United States Eventing Team. In 2025, he designed the cross-country course for the European Eventing Championships scheduled that year.

In August 1989, Phillips and Princess Anne announced their separation, citing marital strain, and both were known to have been linked with other individuals. Their marriage was formally dissolved on 23 April 1992. In 1991, a DNA test confirmed Phillips fathered Felicity Tonkin, born in 1985 in New Zealand to Heather Tonkin.

On 1 February 1997, Phillips married Sandy Pflueger, an American Olympic dressage rider. They have a daughter, Stephanie, born on 2 October 1997. Phillips and Pflueger separated in 2012, amid reports of his involvement with Lauren Hough. His personal wealth is estimated to be between £15 million and £20 million; his divorce settlement from Princess Anne was reported to be around $3 million.

He was present at the funeral service of Elizabeth II at St George’s Chapel on 19 September 2022.

Phillips holds the rank of Captain (retired) from the Queen's Dragoon Guards. His honours include being appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in August 1974, and numerous Jubilee and Jubilee Medals. He received the Commander with Star of the Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav in April 1988 and has served as a Personal Aide-de-Camp to the Queen since 1974. His arms and administrative honours are recognized officially.

His children include Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall (by Princess Anne), Felicity Tonkin (by Heather Tonkin), and Stephanie (by Sandy Pflueger).