The Scottish Mail on Sunday

Busy Bea’s got big new plans for her wedding day

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PRINCESS Beatrice has a wonderful idea to bolster the nation’s morale – an even bigger wedding for her and fiance Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi!

The couple were due to marry at St James’s Palace in London next month, before the Queen hosted a reception for the happy couple in the gardens of Buckingham Palace.

The smaller, private ceremony was planned after Bea’s father Prince Andrew was engulfed in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, culminatin­g in his humiliatin­g interview with Newsnight’s Emily Maitlis.

But Bea’s big day was put on hold following the Government’s advice about social distancing due to the coronaviru­s outbreak.

Now friends tell me that the cancellati­on might be a blessing in disguise, as plans are being hatched for a much larger affair next year. That should be the perfect tonic for Britons fed up after lockdown.

An insider says: ‘As the granddaugh­ter of the Queen, it seems unfair that Bea would have had to hide her nuptials from the public when her younger sister Eugenie did not have to. Eugenie’s wedding was televised and watched by three million viewers in the UK alone.

‘Beatrice and Eugenie’s profiles and workload will increase after the departure of Harry and Meghan.

‘Beatrice wants to show the public that she will never shirk her civic duties. She wants the public to see her as an individual, and not to be judged for the mistakes of her father. By next year, it would be wonderful if she could hold her head up high as she walks down the aisle in front of hundreds of people.’

Friends suggest St George’s Chapel, Windsor, which can accommodat­e 800 guests, would be the obvious choice for the ceremony. It remains to be seen if it would be appropriat­e for Bea to follow Eugenie by having the reception at their father’s official residence, Royal Lodge.

Perhaps a Royal Wedding in 2021 is just what is needed to boost the spirit of the nation.

At least it will beat having to queue to get into a supermarke­t.

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