But when Princess Anne and her husband, Mark Phillips, separated in 1989, the Yorks became Peter’s proxy family.
“They love their daughters so much, but they always loved the idea of having a baby boy in their lives – it was their one regret, that they didn’t try for another baby in the hope he would be a boy,” said the source.
“And when they split 23 years ago they were sad when they realised it would never happen for them.”
Peter’s daughters, Isla and Savannah, were bridesmaids at Eugenie’s October wedding.
Adds the source: “They’re still incredibly close.”
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