Autumn Kelly became known to many people after she married Peter Phillips. He is the eldest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and the son of Princess Anne. Yet Autumn had a full life before she entered the royal family circle.
She was born in Canada and studied at McGill University. She also worked in business before she met Peter. Their marriage later brought her into public view in Britain.
This biography covers her early life, education, work, marriage, children, divorce, and life today. It also explains her ties to Princess Anne, Zara Tindall, and the wider British Royal Family.
Quick Bio Table
Early Life of Autumn Kelly in Canada
Autumn Kelly was born as Autumn Patricia Kelly on May 3, 1978. Her birthplace was Montreal, Quebec, in Canada. She spent her early years in and around the Montreal area.
Her parents are Brian Kelly and Kathleen McCarthy. She has two brothers. One is her twin brother, Christopher, and the other is her older brother, Kevin.
Her parents later divorced and both remarried. Autumn grew up in a Catholic family. Her early life was far removed from royal events in Britain.
Canada remained an important part of her story. It was where she grew up and went to university. It was also where she later met the man she would marry.
Education and Early Work
Autumn Kelly studied at McGill University in Montreal. She completed her degree in 2002. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in East Asian Studies.
After university, she worked as a management consultant. This gave her a clear career path before she became known through the royal family.
She later moved to the United Kingdom. She also worked as a personal assistant to broadcaster Sir Michael Parkinson. Her work life stayed separate from royal duties.
Autumn never became a working royal. She had no official palace role. Her public profile came from her marriage and family links.
How Did She Meet Peter Phillips?
Autumn Kelly met Peter Phillips at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal in 2003. Peter was there through his work with the Williams Formula One team.
Their first meeting took place in a work setting. Autumn did not know at first that Peter was the grandson of Queen Elizabeth II. She learned about his famous family link later.
Peter Phillips is the son of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips. He is also the older brother of Zara Tindall. He does not hold a royal title.
The couple stayed together after their first meeting. Their relationship grew over the next few years. They later decided to marry.
Engagement and Royal Family Link
Peter and Autumn became engaged after several years together. Their engagement became public in July 2007. It soon drew wide press interest.
The news brought more attention to Autumn. She was set to marry the Queen’s eldest grandchild. Even so, she did not become part of the group of working royals.
Before the wedding, Autumn joined the Church of England. She had been raised as a Roman Catholic. At that time, royal succession rules made this issue important for Peter.
The law changed in later years. But the older rule still applied before their 2008 wedding. Her change of church therefore drew public interest at the time.
Wedding at St George’s Chapel
She married Peter Phillips on May 17, 2008. The wedding took place at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.
Many members of the royal family attended. Queen Elizabeth II was there with Prince Philip and Princess Anne. Zara Tindall also took part in the wedding.
Autumn wore a dress by British designer Sassi Holford. She also wore the Festoon Tiara. Princess Anne lent the tiara to her for the day.
The wedding made Autumn the wife of the Queen’s eldest grandchild. Still, she did not become a princess. She also did not receive an official royal role.
Family Life With Peter Phillips
After the wedding, the couple spent part of their married life in Hong Kong. Peter worked there in sports sponsorship.
They later returned to Britain. Their family life became closely linked with Gloucestershire and the Gatcombe Park area.
The couple later became parents to two daughters. Their first child was Savannah Anne Kathleen Phillips. She was born on December 29, 2010.
Savannah was the first great grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Her birth marked a new generation in the royal family.
Birth of Savannah and Isla Phillips
The couple welcomed their second daughter in 2012. Isla Elizabeth Phillips was born on March 29 of that year.
Like her older sister, Isla was born at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. The two girls grew up with close links to the Phillips and Tindall families.
Savannah and Isla have appeared at family events over the years. They have also been seen at royal gatherings and horse events.
Autumn Kelly has kept much of their private life away from the press. She and Peter have focused on raising their daughters outside full time royal duties.
What Happened to Her Marriage With Peter Phillips?
Autumn and Peter separated in 2019. They later confirmed their plan to divorce in February 2020.
Their public statement said the choice came after months of talks. They also said the welfare of their daughters was their main concern.
The couple said they planned to share care of Savannah and Isla. They described the split as an amicable decision.
Their divorce became final on June 14, 2021. They had been married for about 13 years. No detailed public reason for the split has been confirmed.
Life After the Divorce
After the divorce, Autumn stayed in the Gloucestershire area. This kept her near the wider family network around her daughters.
She and Peter continued to co parent Savannah and Isla. Both girls kept their family ties with Princess Anne, Zara Tindall, and other relatives.
Autumn has stayed fairly private since the divorce. She does not have an official role in the royal family. She also does not speak often about her personal life.
Her public appearances are often linked to family events, racing, or horse sport. These are also major interests within the Phillips and Tindall families.
Is Autumn Kelly Still Close to the Royal Family?
Public events show that Autumn Kelly still has friendly links with parts of the royal family. She has been seen with Princess Anne and Zara Tindall since her divorce.
In April 2025, she attended the Cirencester Park Horse Trials. She was seen there with Princess Anne while Zara took part in the event.
These public moments show that contact has continued. They do not mean Autumn has an official royal job or title.
Her daughters also keep her tied to the family. Savannah and Isla are Princess Anne’s granddaughters. They are also Zara Tindall’s nieces.
Relationship With Donal Mulryan
Autumn has been in a public relationship with Donal Mulryan since 2022. He is an Irish property developer.
Mulryan is known for his work in property and construction. He founded the property company Rockwell.
The couple have appeared together at public events. They were also seen together at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2026.
Autumn has kept the relationship low key. She has not made it part of a media career. Most public details come from their appearances at events.
Continued Public Interest
She remains of interest because of her link to one of Britain’s best known families. She was married to the Queen’s eldest grandchild for more than a decade.
Her daughters also keep that family link strong. Savannah and Isla are great granddaughters of Queen Elizabeth II. They are also granddaughters of Princess Anne.
Autumn Kelly also has a clear story of her own. She grew up in Canada, studied at McGill, and worked before she met Peter.
Her life after divorce is also different from that of a working royal. She has stayed private while still attending some family and horse events.
Final Thoughts on Autumn Kelly
Autumn Kelly moved from a private life in Montreal to a place near the center of royal public interest. She did so through her marriage to Peter Phillips.
She studied at McGill University and worked in business before their 2003 meeting. The pair married at Windsor Castle in 2008.
They later had two daughters, Savannah and Isla. Their marriage ended in 2021 after they had separated in 2019.
Today, Autumn remains best known as Peter Phillips’ ex wife. She is also a mother with close family links to the Phillips, Tindall, and wider royal family circle.
FAQs
Who is Autumn Kelly?
Autumn Kelly is the Canadian born former wife of Peter Phillips. She was born in Montreal in 1978 and studied at McGill University. She worked in business before her marriage. Peter is the eldest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II.
When did Autumn marry Peter Phillips?
She married Peter Phillips on May 17, 2008. Their wedding took place at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. Several members of the royal family attended the ceremony.
How many children do Autumn and Peter Phillips have?
They have two daughters. Savannah Phillips was born in 2010. Isla Phillips was born in 2012. Savannah was Queen Elizabeth II’s first great grandchild.
When did Autumn and Peter Phillips divorce?
They separated in 2019 and announced their plan to divorce in February 2020. The divorce became final on June 14, 2021. They said their daughters would remain their main focus.
Who is Autumn’s partner?
Autumn has been publicly linked with Irish property developer Donal Mulryan since 2022. They have appeared together at public events. This included the Cheltenham Festival in March 2026.