FUTURE Royal bride Harriet Sperling is undergoing the ‘Balmoral Test’ after being invited to the Scottish Highlands for the first time.
The NHS nurse is set to marry the King’s nephew Peter Phillips, 47, after the royal revealed this summer he had already popped the question after just over a year dating.
Harriet Sperling, 45, and Peter Phillips, 47, announced they were engaged earlier this summer[/caption]
The NHS nurse has been in a relationship with Peter for just over a year[/caption]
Harriet has joined the King and Queen at Balmoral ahead of her wedding to Peter[/caption]
Mum-of-one Harriett, 45, has joined the King and Queen in Scotland and has thrown herself into the famous family exam held at Balmoral’s 53,000 acre estate ahead of her Royal wedding.
Insiders reveal she had been bonding with Zara Tindall and her children while enjoying rides on trips on electric-powered mountain bikes around the estates.
She also joined the royals while horseriding in the estate this week.
Balmoral allows the extended Royal Family to gather for several weeks during August in one of only two times a year along with Christmas that they all enjoy a work-free get-together.
The Balmoral Test lives in folklore within royal circles and Princess Diana‘s wooing of the late Queen and Prince Philip was immortalised in Netflix show The Crown.
A source said: “Everyone knows Peter is smitten and his family have accepted Harriett into the set up so she will likely pass the infamous Balmoral Test with flying colours.”
Peter, who is Princess Anne’s son, revealed he had popped the question earlier this month.
A statement released on behalf of the couple said: “Both families were informed jointly of the announcement and were delighted with the wonderful news of their engagement.
“Mr Peter Phillips, the son of HRH The Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips, and Ms Harriet Sperling, daughter of the late Mr Rupert Sanders and Mrs Mary Sanders of Gloucestershire, have today confirmed their official engagement.”
Harriett, who The Sun first revealed last summer was dating Peter, is not the first to undergo the Balmoral Test.
Princess Diana famously passed with flying colours on her first visit to Scotland.
Kate, the Princess of Wales, made her first visit to Balmoral in 2009 two years before she married Prince William.
Her parents Carole and Michael Middleton were put through the test the following summer joining a shooting weekend.
Carole was even driven back to the castle by the Queen.
The Prime Minister is also invited to the Scottish estate every summer with Sir Keir Starmer expected next month.
Former leader David Cameron once said there was no time for “chillaxing” as the Royals spent their days enjoying outdoor pursuits.
The Royals traditionally enjoy shooting, long walks and barbecues, in the Highlands.
The vast estate with castle lodges means not only working royals but members of the extended family are invited to stay.
But Prince Harry is not expected to join his family this summer despite rumours of reconciliation moves.
The King was formally welcomed into Balmoral on Monday wearing his custom-designed King Charles III tartan kilt, carried out an inspection of Balaklava Company Company 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland.
And paused to greet the regiment’s official mascot Cpl Cruachan IV – a Shetland pony.
The disgraced Prince Andrew has also joined the family in Scotland, although he is staying at Craigowan Lodge just a mile from the castle.
Andy, left reeling by a new book into his background, was banished from Royal Family Christmas last year amid his links to an alleged Chinese spy.
The pair were spotted beaming at Royal Ascot in June[/caption]
