More Bad News for the Royal Family

The first of Queen Elizabeth II's grandchildren is to become a divorcee. Peter Phillips—the son of Princess Anne and her first husband Mark Phillips—has separated from his Canadian wife, Autumn, after 12 years of marriage, according to a Tuesday statement. The couple said "the decision to divorce and share custody" was "the best course of action for their two children [Savannah, 9, and Isla, 7] and ongoing friendship," per the Telegraph. They added the Queen and other family members were notified last year of the decision, which "although sad, is an amicable one." However, the Sun reports Autumn, 41, initiated the move, leaving her husband, 42, in "total shock." The couple met at the 2003 Montreal Grand Prix, a Formula One race, per Town & Country. Peter Phillips is 15th in line to the throne. (More royal family stories.)