Princess Anne’s granddaughter, Isla Phillips, turns 14 today and has been tipped to “make her mark on royal life”.
Isla, the daughter of Anne’s son, Peter Phillips, with his former wife, Autumn, was last seen in January, attending Cheltenham Racecourse with her family.
She has been away from the spotlight during her childhood, given no royal titles by her father in a similar move to the Princess Royal, who did not give Zara Tindall or Peter titles when they were born.
Isla is set to take on bridesmaid duties soon with her older sister, Savannah, when their father marries his girlfriend, Harriet Sperling.
Princess Anne’s granddaughter Isla is celebrating turning 14 | PA/GETTY
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams has backed Isla to enter the spotlight at the wedding this year.
He told the Daily Mail: “Little attention has so far been paid to Isla Phillips, yet, considering her antecedents, she is likely to make her mark on royal life.
“Her generation should be free of the scandals that are currently causing problems for the thousand-year-old institution of monarchy.
“It should be a breath of fresh air as the Royal Family moves with the times and each generation has something new to give in an environment which is constantly changing but always pressurised.”
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams has tipped Isla to enter the spotlight at her father’s wedding
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Discussing the exclusion of titles, Mr Fitzwilliams described the initial decision not to give Zara or Peter titles as “sensible”.
He said: “Isla is Queen Elizabeth’s great-grandchild, the daughter of Peter and Autumn, who are divorced. Savannah, who is 15, is her sibling.
“The family have a healthy disregard for titles – with Princess Anne having sensibly decided that her children, Peter and Zara, would be better off without them.
“As titles usually pass through the male line, Peter and Zara were not automatically entitled to them, and so she did not inherit a rank from her father.”
The royal commentator mentioned the impact of equestrianism that Peter has passed down to his youngest daughter.
Isla seen with Mike Tindall and his daughter Mia
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Mr Fitzwilliams explained: “Her grandmother, Princess Anne, and her aunt Zara are famous for their equestrian feats, and this has led to them being extremely popular.
“Isla reportedly goes riding with Princess Anne on the Gatcombe Park estate most days.
“She has also attended important equestrian events such as the Badminton and Gatcombe Horse Trials and the Blenheim International Horse Trials. It will be fascinating to see if she, too, specialises in equestrian activities.
“Image is most important, and she has a remarkable resemblance to her glamorous aunt Zara.”
Isla ‘reportedly goes riding with Princess Anne on the Gatcombe Park estate’
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The royal commentator tipped Anne to mentor Isla as she grows into her role in the Royal Family.
He said: “In future years, her grandmother, Princess Anne, who is considered the hardest working, no-nonsense member of the royal family, is likely to advise her.
“This will serve her well in the years ahead as she carves out her own distinctive path as a non-working royal.
“This may, however, include charitable work and will most certainly involve a public profile in due course.”