King's nephew Peter Phillips marries NHS nurse – what couples getting married abroad can learn

The marriage of Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling is a reminder that every wedding, whether royal or not, requires careful preparation.

2 min read

The wedding of Peter Phillips, the King's nephew and eldest grandson of the late Queen Elizabeth II, to NHS paediatric nurse Harriet Sperling has captured public attention across the UK. The couple married in a private ceremony at All Saints Church in Kemble, Gloucestershire, attended by senior members of the Royal Family including King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Catherine.

  • While most couples will not have a royal guest list, one thing remains true for everyone planning a wedding outside the UK: ensuring your legal documents are properly prepared, apostilled and accepted overseas.

Getting married abroad – more than just booking flights

Thousands of British couples choose to marry overseas every year. Popular destinations include Spain, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Dubai, Turkey, Thailand and the Caribbean.

However, before the ceremony can take place, foreign authorities often require official UK documents, including:

  • Birth certificates
  • Certificates of No Impediment (CNI)
  • Decree Absolute documents (if previously married)
  • Change of name deeds
  • Statutory declarations
  • Passport copies

Many countries require these documents to be legalised with an FCDO apostille before they can be accepted.

Why apostille services matter

An apostille is an official certificate issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) confirming that a document is genuine and can be recognised internationally under the Hague Apostille Convention.

Without the correct legalisation, your wedding plans could be delayed or even cancelled by local authorities abroad.

Countries may also require:

  • Certified translations
  • Embassy legalisation
  • Notarisation
  • Additional authentication procedures

Requirements vary significantly between destinations, making early preparation essential.

Planning Ahead Can Save Stress

Royal weddings are planned with military precision, and couples getting married abroad should adopt a similar approach when it comes to paperwork.

Different countries have different processing times, and some documents must be issued within a specific period before the wedding date.

For example:

  • Some countries require a recently issued birth certificate.
  • Some require the apostille to be less than six months old.
  • Others require documents to be translated by approved translators.

Starting the process early helps avoid unnecessary stress and costly last-minute arrangements.

Fast apostille and legalisation services

At Orcap, we help couples prepare documents for overseas marriages quickly and efficiently.

Our services include:

  • Same day apostille services
  • FCDO apostille UK processing
  • Notarisation assistance
  • Embassy attestation
  • Certified document handling
  • International legalisation support

Whether you are planning a beach wedding in Cyprus, a romantic ceremony in Italy or a destination wedding in Dubai, our team can help ensure your documents are ready when you need them.

Getting married abroad? We can help

The marriage of Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling is a reminder that every wedding, whether royal or not, requires careful preparation.

If you are planning to get married overseas and need a rapid apostille, embassy attestation or document legalisation service, contact Orcap today.

We provide fast, reliable support for couples across the UK preparing for their special day abroad.

Our services

  • Premium 1-day Apostille service

    Our premium apostille service is ideal for urgent requirements, offering fast-track processing through the FCDO apostille UK service. Documents are prioritised to ensure you receive your apostille as quickly as the next working day, depending on document type and eligibility.

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    Solicitor certification + Apostille

    We provide solicitor certification for documents that require it before apostille, ensuring they meet all FCDO apostille UK standards. Once certified, your documents are submitted for fast apostille processing, helping to avoid delays and ensuring full international compliance.

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    Sets of documents

    We offer combined apostille and legalisation services for multiple documents, allowing you to process document sets efficiently. This approach saves time, ensures consistency across all paperwork and helps streamline FCDO apostille UK processing.

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    Embassy attestation

    For non-Hague Convention countries, we offer complete embassy attestation and consular legalisation services. We manage the entire process, including FCDO apostille UK processing followed by embassy submission, ensuring your documents are fully compliant for international use.

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    Notary certification + Apostille

    Documents for international use may require notary certification before apostille. We arrange certification by a UK Notary Public, followed by FCDO apostille UK processing, ensuring your documents meet all legalisation requirements and are accepted worldwide.

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    Translation

    We provide professional certified translation services for documents requiring apostille and legalisation. All translations are prepared to meet official UK and international requirements, ensuring acceptance for overseas use alongside FCDO apostille UK processing.