Having recently graduated from Exeter University
with a degree in sports science, Peter Phillips was
able to thoroughly relax and enjoy the action at the
Gatcombe Park horse trials which are held on his home
estate. But he was particularly interested in the progress of
one of the competitors - the American rider Elizabeth
Iorio, who has been the girlfriend of the Queen's eldest
grandson for two years now. Riding her horse, Wily Wizard,
she completed the cross-country course with just time
faults. The daughter of Massachusetts cod liver
oil tycoon Theodore Iorio, rumoured to be worth £100
million, Elizabeth has been a frequent visitor to Gatcombe
Park - and not only on business, but also for
pleasure. Known by her friends as Beth, the 25-year-old
American is seen as one of the brightest young talents on
the US eventing scene. She met the Princess Royal's
handsome son, voted the sexiest royal alive by People
magazine in 1998, when she came to Britain with the US
three day eventing team to stay with Peter's father,
Captain Mark Phillips, who is the US team coach, at his
Berkshire home. The media, it goes without saying,
are more than interested in Peter's love interest
but, as befits the son of one of Britain's most
down-to-earth royals, he's keeping the details to himself. And
when Elizabeth was quizzed on her relationship with
Peter, ninth in line to the throne, the reporter was
told: "I don't want to discuss it if you don't mind. I
don't want to be interviewed in any way."
(old news but information nevertheless.)