ROYAL WEDS ... IN SECRET
Princess has ‘cheapest ever’ do attended by Queen & Philip Only family were told after original plans hit by lockdown
PRINCESS Beatrice married property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi at a top secret ceremony in Windsor yesterday.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were seen smiling as they drove to the intimate Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge, the home of Beatrice’s father Prince Andrew.
Andrew walked the bride down the aisle and mum Sarah Ferguson was also among the group of around 20 close relatives allowed to attend under strict social distancing rules.
Beatrice is understood to have worn the dress she had planned to wear at her scheduled wedding in May at the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace in Central London.
Royal sources last night revealed the couple immediately set about planning a new ceremony after lockdown ruled out their original plan, but told only their families. They chose a Windsor venue so the ceremony could be attended by the Queen, 94, who has been shielding there with husband Prince Philip, 99.
The wedding is believed to be the first family gathering they have attended since lockdown.
Beatrice, 31, and Edoardo, 37, personally asked the monarch if they could use the chapel where she worships while at Windsor.
They exchanged vows soon after 11am and will throw a party at a later stage after original plans for a reception at Buckingham Palace were scuppered. But there was a hint that some celebrations were planned yesterday as the Windsor & Eton brewery made a delivery to Windsor Castle.
Pals say the couple were set on marrying this year as they are keen to start a family. One joked: “It’s got to be the cheapest royal wedding ever!” The insider added: “Beatrice and Edo are utterly besotted with each other and can’t wait to start a family together as soon as possible. When it came down to it they didn’t care about the big showy wedding, they wanted to say their vows in front of those closest to them.”
Beatrice began dating the millionaire property tycoon in autumn 2018. It caused some controversy at the time as Edo, 37, had only just split from his ex-partner Dara Huan, with whom he has son Christopher, known as Wolfie, who Beatrice is now stepmother to.
Dara’s mum Lily was shocked by the sudden separation – and said her daughter was left devastated at the speed of her relationship’s collapse. She said: “I think Dara was hiding it from me. She didn’t want me to be sad. I am shocked. I love Edo. I love his family. Why has this happened? This has broken me to bits.”
Friends of heartbroken Dara claimed she was forced to leave Edo’s London flat and even sleep on a friend’s sofa while looking for a new home.
Those close to Edo said there was “never any crossover” in his relationships and it was “love at first sight with Bea”.
The princess, who split from long-term love Dave Clark in 2016 after 10 years together, said “yes” after Edo proposed during a weekend trip to Italy last year following a whirlwind romance.
Their families have known one another for many years and the couple are said to have started a relationship after meeting again at the wedding of Beatrice’s sister Eugenie, who was maid of honour yesterday. One royal source said:
They didn’t care about the big wedding, they are besotted FRIEND OF THE COUPLE ON THE SECRET CEREMONY
“In the end the wedding suited everything about the couple, who wouldn’t have wanted a big showy wedding like Harry and Meghan or even the amount of guests Eugenie had.”
Princess Eugenie, 30, married drinks distributor Jack Brooksbank at St George’s Chapel in Windsor in October 2018 with 800 guests.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, wed at the same venue in May that year, less than two years before quitting their royal roles to live in Los Angeles. They did not attend yesterday.
It is understood Beatrice spent the night before the wedding at the 30-room Royal Lodge with her parents the Duke and Duchess of York, before walking to the chapel nearby.
Yesterday’s wedding came at a tumultuous time for Beatrice’s family after the continuing scandal over Prince Andrew’s links to paedophile US financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew, 60, was forced to step back from royal duties after a disastrous interview with BBC’s Newsnight in November where he tried to explain his friendship with Epstein.
Andrew’s pal Ghislaine Maxwell, 58, is in a New York jail pending trial on charges including procuring women and minors for Epstein, and perjury. She denies all charges.
Billionaire Epstein was found dead in a New York jail last year where he was awaiting trial on child sex trafficking charges.
Edo is the son of Nikki Shale and Italian ex-Olympic skier Count Alessandro Mapelli Mozzi. They split when Edo was young.
Nikki’s second husband Christopher Shale, a senior Tory and a close friend of former Prime Minister David Cameron, died of a heart attack at Glastonbury Festival in 2011.
Edo will continue to work with his property firm. Beatrice, ninth in line to the throne, has a full-time job at software firm Afiniti as vice president of partnerships and strategy. Buckingham Palace said: “The private wedding ceremony of Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi took place at 11am on Friday 17th July at the Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge, Windsor.
“The small ceremony was attended by The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh and close family.”
The Queen later knighted Captain Tom Moore, her first public engagement in person since lockdown.