The Untold Truth: Decoding Captain Mark Phillips in The Crown

Summary

Captain Mark Phillips, a renowned equestrian, played a minor role in Netflix's "The Crown" but has a fascinating personal story.

Phillips and Princess Anne initially crossed paths in 1968 and eventually tied the knot in 1973, deviating from convention by refraining from bestowing royal titles upon their offspring. The couple encountered challenges within their marriage, such as extramarital affairs on both ends, ultimately resulting in their separation in 1989 and subsequent divorce in 1992.

Captain Mark Phillips, though playing a minor role in Netflix's The Crown, held significant importance in the history of the British Royal Family during the '70s and '80s. The Crown, which premiered on Netflix in 2016, encompasses Queen Elizabeth II's reign from the early stages of WWII to the present day. Known for its grand scope and meticulous attention to detail, The Crown stands out by reimagining Royal history through outstanding performances. With a star-studded cast, the series has adapted to various time periods seamlessly.

Conceived by Peter Morgan, The Crown has consistently received critical acclaim since its premiere, remaining a standout example of a consistently exceptional show. Although regarded as a historical epic, the series has faced scrutiny for altering certain details for dramatic purposes. Captain Mark Phillips' relationship with Princess Anne, while not a focal point of the show, does provide compelling material. Additionally, Phillips' own intriguing story is intricately intertwined with Princess Anne, who, regrettably, receives limited attention in the series.

Mark Phillips Is A Famous Equestrian

Mark Phillips gained fame in the equestrian world, notably winning a gold medal at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany. Although his achievements were sometimes overshadowed by his association with the Royal family, Phillips remains highly regarded in the equestrian community and currently writes as a columnist for Horse & Hound magazine. Interestingly, Phillips' daughter Zara achieved her own success by winning a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics in London, England, following in her father's footsteps.

According to The London Gazette, Phillips began his military career after completing his education in 1969 and by 1973, he held the rank of acting Captain. Due to his close ties with the Royal family, he was later appointed as the Queen's Personal aide-de-camp in 1974. Although Phillips retired from military service in 1978, he chose to retain his Captain title, which he still holds. Although not fully depicted in The Crown, Phillips made occasional appearances in seasons 3 and 4 of the show, playing a minor role in the background.

How Mark Phillips Met Princess Anne

Mark Phillips' relationship with Princess Anne began in 1968 when they first met at a party for horse enthusiasts. Phillips, a member of Great Britain's Olympic equestrian team at the time, quickly bonded with the princess over their shared love for horses. However, their journey to marriage was not straightforward. Prior to tying the knot with Phillips, Princess Anne had a well-known relationship with another man.

In the third season of The Crown, it is depicted that Princess Anne met another equestrian named Andrew Parker Bowles shortly after meeting Phillips. The show portrays their relationship as scandalous because Parker Bowles had previously dated Camilla Shand, the woman whom the Royal family disapproved of for Prince Charles in the 1970s. Eventually, Parker Bowles would marry Camilla in 1973, as Anne ended her relationship with him due to the impossibility of marriage caused by his Catholicism.

Princess Anne & Mark Phillips Married In 1973

Princess Anne and Mark Phillips reunited in the early 1970s and tied the knot in 1973. Surprisingly, the third season of The Crown did not portray their wedding, which occurred in the '60s and '70s. Despite Anne's reputation for being more understated compared to other royals, her marriage to Phillips was a grand affair befitting a royal wedding. Although it was later overshadowed by Diana and Charles' union, Anne became the first of Queen Elizabeth's children to get married.

In 1977, Anne and Phillips welcomed their first child, Peter. They were soon blessed with another child, Zara, in 1981. As a couple, Princess Anne and Mark Phillips set significant precedents while also defying others. Anne was the first member of the Royal family to give birth in the luxurious Lindo Wing of St. Mary's Hospital, a tradition that still continues today. However, she broke tradition by refusing to grant royal titles to her children, making them the first members of the Royal family in over 500 years to be born as commoners.

Why Mark Phillips & Princess Anne Got Divorced

Covered in The Crown were the turbulent years when Mark Phillips and Princess Anne's relationship began to fall apart. The focus of The Crown season 4 was mainly on the marriage of Charles and Diana, with the Princess's marital problems taking a backseat. After their second child was born in 1981, Phillips and Anne started appearing together less often as they both had their own commitments.

In episode 4 of The Crown season 4, titled "The Favourite," there was a suggestion that Anne was involved in an affair with her bodyguard, Peter Cross. To address the rumors, the Queen decided to reassign Cross to different duties to reduce gossip. Surprisingly, the affair was confirmed when Cross himself came forward and admitted to his scandalous encounters with the princess (via Elle). There is no evidence that Anne's affair directly led to the end of her marriage with Mark Phillips, and it's worth noting that she was not the only one who engaged in extramarital activities.

A major scandal shook the Royal family in the mid-1980s when evidence of Mark Phillip's extramarital affairs emerged in the form of a child. According to The US Sun, Phillips had a child with art teacher Heather Tonkin in 1985. Initially, Phillips denied the allegation, but DNA evidence later confirmed that he was indeed the father. The revelation further strained their already distant relationship, leading to their separation announcement in 1989 (via The New York Times). At the time, divorce wasn't on the table, but they eventually divorced in 1992.

What The Crown Gets Right And What It Gets Wrong

When it comes to factual accuracy, Princess Anne's relationship with Mark Phillips is fairly accurate, although the series does have some omissions that result in errors. It appears that her relationship with Andrew Parker Bowles was exaggerated for the purpose of creating scandal, but other aspects are quite faithful to reality. Surprisingly, The Crown overlooks the kidnapping attempt that Princess Anne experienced in the '70s, as well as the various behind-the-scenes conflicts that ultimately led to her divorce in the 1990s.

Mark Phillips believes that he received fair treatment, comparable to that of his ex-wife, despite several significant aspects of his life being disregarded for the sake of storytelling efficiency. Considering the ambitious nature of The Crown, it is expected that certain details would be omitted. It is possible that a future series or film could delve deeper into the relationship between Mark Phillips and Princess Anne, yet it is evident that The Crown had limited time to encompass everything.