ROYAL WEDDING:
love match for Princess Beatrice
Mother of the bride-to-be, Sarah, Duchess of York, said she had “tears of joy” when her eldest daughter, Princess Beatrice, became engaged to Italian property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. Sarah had known Edo since he was four – “his brother is my godson” she said – and was thrilled he would now be her son-in-law.
There’s no doubt the proud mum will be shedding more tears when the couple ties the knot in what will be a private and intimate wedding for close family and friends on Friday, May 29. It’s going to be a beautiful ceremony for Princess Beatrice, 31, and the exceedingly dashing Edo, 37, who will be saying “I do” in the Chapel Royal in St James’s Palace.
Many royals have married in this very special chapel in the heart of London, including Queen Victoria and Prince Albert back in 1840, and the Queen’s grandparents, the then Duke of York and Princess Victoria Mary of Teck (later King George V and Queen Mary), and in 2013, Prince George was baptised at the chapel font. For Beatrice to be married there the
Queen had to grant permission and the ceremony will be followed by a reception given by Her Majesty in the gardens of Buckingham Palace.
Unlike her sister Princess Eugenie’s sizeable do at Windsor Castle, this will be a significantly lower-key event but there is no question the Princess is being honoured by her grandmother and there will still be plenty of royal pomp and pizazz. The
Chapel Royal is steeped in royal history, from Henry VIII’s time through World War II, when it was bombed, to its restored glory today, and it is quite exquisite inside.
Buckingham Palace has confirmed that Prince Andrew will walk his daughter down the aisle and
watching on will be 150 close family and friends. Since Beatrice was the maid of honour at her sister Eugenie’s wedding, it’s expected that Eugenie will return the favour and it’s possible that bridesmaids and pageboys may include the Cambridge children. Edoardo’s three-year-old son Christopher, known as Wolfie, may also play a key role and his mother, Edoardo’s former fiancée Dara Huang, will probably attend.
The bigger bash will be at Buckingham Palace, where the gardens will be resplendent at this time of year. I understand that the couple are busy planning every detail of their day and in line with their wishes the ceremony will not be televised. But well-wishers may catch sight of the guests and couple arriving and departing both venues and travelling between St James’s Palace
and Buckingham Palace, which is a short walk through Green Park or a drive up The Mall.
Beatrice began dating Edoardo in 2018 and he proposed in Italy with an art deco-inspired diamond ring he had specially made. It was hand-cast in platinum with a 2.5 carat stone and two baguettes on either side. Princess Beatrice reportedly loved the ring, and their engagement was formally announced on September 26, 2019.
“We are both so excited to be embarking on this life adventure together and can’t wait to be married,” the couple said. Also excited were their parents. Nikki Williams-Ellis and Alessandro
Mapelli Mozzi – a British Olympian and descendant of Italian nobility – were “truly delighted. Our family has known Beatrice for most of her life,” they said. “Edo and Beatrice are made for each other, and their happiness and love for each other is there for all to see. They share an incredibly strong and united bond, their marriage will only strengthen what is already a wonderful relationship.”
The Duke and Duchess of York added: “We are the lucky parents of a wonderful daughter who has found her love and companion in a completely devoted friend and loyal young man.”
Beatrice’s 10-year relationship with businessman Dave Clark ended in 2016 but now she has found her match. “We share so many similar interests and values and we know this will stand us in great stead for the years ahead, full of love and happiness,” the couple said.
In lieu of wedding gifts, the couple has asked guests to support Big Change, the youth charity which Princess Beatrice helped found, and Cricket Builds Hope, a charity that uses cricket as a tool for positive change in Rwanda.