Harriet Sperling, dedicated NHS Paediatric Nurse Specialist. In the ten years since the birth of her daughter, Georgina, in 2012, she has walked with grace through the trials of single motherhood. Their bond, built over more than a decade of collaboration, has changed Harriet’s life immeasurably. Growing up in Gloucestershire and going to school at Cheltenham’s Dean Close School, the singer, songwriter and musician has forged tenacity and power through experience, loss and adversity.
During those first years of being a mother, Harriet was met with many challenges. Resources were critically limited, and the future was anything but clear. Her experiences brought her to the realization that there is a deep power in selfless love. During the first few years of my experience as a single mother, resources were limited. It was a very scary, confusing time and I really didn’t know what the future would be. Lacking physical protections, I found in turn the resiliency and vibrancy that springs from unfettered selfless love. A love that you can only have when you focus on your child,” Harriet confessed.
A Defining Relationship
Harriet’s close relationship with Georgina has been crucial to Harriet’s identity as a single mother. For a decade the two have toiled side by side, at times like a lonely island in an ocean of suburban sprawl. Harriet remembers their closeness, saying “My daughter and I traveled a decade just the two of us at first. I compare us to an island, and it has frequently felt quite literally impossible to picture anyone getting to that island.” This feeling was at the heart of their relationship—an unbreakable bond formed from years of adversity, laughter, and care.
Although parenting solo has been a challenge, Harriet continues to look forward with hope on her journey. She doesn’t hide from the stigma of being a single mother, but her conviction that faith can make something beautiful out of brokenness drives her ministry. In fact, single parenting is extremely difficult. Even with the stigma, she has faith that God will break through and change circumstances for the better.
A Turning Point
As we learned in our interview with Harriet, Harriet’s faith has been foundational in her life. It was never gone, but it has laid quietly under the radar for decades. That all changed overnight when I broke up with my long-term, seven-year partner. This watershed moment really catalyzed and opened up her spiritual path and allowed her to tap into a new source of power. “My faith was never not in me, but it was just sleeping,” Harriet shared.
Beyond her personal life, Harriet’s professional trajectory mirrors her passion for serving others. After training as a nurse in London she now works as a paediatric nurse specialist in the NHS. Her career decision is a big step and an indicator of her strong commitment to improving the lives of children and their families.
New Beginnings
Come 2024, Harriet would start to date Peter Phillips, throwing another fascinating twist at Harriet’s life saga. The couple have made appearances together at numerous high-profile events, from Wimbledon to charity polo matches. As their public appearances underscore, this is a new chapter for Harriet, even as she continues to honor her commitment to her daughter.
As she forges a new path, balancing motherhood and her career, Harriet Sperling is all spirit, poise and power. Her story highlights the struggles of being a single parent. It reminds us of the beauty that arises when love and faith are combined.
