Princess Beatrice’s big day in doubt after she is forced to cancel reception
PRINCESS Beatrice has cancelled her wedding reception due to coronavirus, casting doubt over whether the ceremony in May will go ahead.
The 31-year-old and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, her fiancé, are “reviewing” their plans to get married at the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, London, on May 29 after the Government advised the public against social gatherings.
It comes amid mounting speculation that the nuptials may have to be postponed due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman confirmed: “Princess Beatrice and Mr Mapelli Mozzi are very much looking forward to getting married but are equally aware of the need to avoid undertaking any unnecessary risks in the current circumstances.
“In line with Government advice for the UK and beyond, the couple are reviewing their arrangements for 29th May. They are particularly conscious of Government advice in relation to both the wellbeing of older family members and large gatherings of people.
“Therefore, the planned reception in the Buckingham Palace Gardens will not take place.
“The couple will carefully consider Government advice before deciding whether a private marriage might take place amongst a small group of family and friends.”
A source close to the couple said they currently still planned to tie the knot in two month’s time but would postpone the celebrations until later this year or even next year.
“There won’t be a reception,” said the friend. “The wedding may be just them and a chaplain.
“It all depends on what happens over the next few weeks but there will be no big gathering.”
The latest advice from the Government warned against social gatherings, while Christian and Muslim leaders have suspended public worship until further notice. Although a Church of England spokesman said that weddings and funerals could go ahead, new social distancing rules and travel bans mean that the couple’s marriage plans have been thrown into chaos.
The Daily Telegraph had previously reported that the Duke of Edinburgh, 98, was looking increasingly unlikely to make the wedding.
He is living at a cottage on the Queen’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk, where he has been convalsencing since being released from hospital on Christmas Eve following a four-day stay.
The Queen, who turns 94 next month, is due to relocate to Windsor Castle today until further notice after all royal engagements were cancelled including garden parties and investitures.
Further announcements on Trooping the Colour, the 75th anniversary of VE Day and the state visit by the Emperor and Empress of Japan will be made in consultation with the Government. Yesterday, the Queen completed her last planned audiences with Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, the commanding officer of HMS Queen Elizabeth and the Bishop of Hereford.
The Chapel Royal has a 150-seat capacity, but hundreds more guests had been expected to attend the reception hosted by the Queen at her London residence.
The groom’s family originally hails from the Lombardy region in Italy, one of the areas worst hit by the disease, although insiders said that he only had “distant relatives” still living there.