The world was surprised to learn that Princess Beatrice secretly married property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi this morning in front of 20 guests. But according to sources, planning for the intimate wedding has quietly been under way for a while. The reason for the location, date, and safety protocols for the event were reportedly all centered around 94-year-old Queen Elizabeth.
“It was all about the Queen’s schedule,” a source told People about the couple’s decision to wed on July 17. “The Queen was the guest of honor, and it was very important that she was there.” According to The Sun, which published photos of the Queen and Prince Philip leaving the wedding, the senior royals exited the affair early to perform a knighthood ceremony for Captain Tom Moore. (Photos from the day are expected to arrive later this weekend so as not to overshadow Moore’s achievement.)
The People insider said that while Beatrice and Mozzi didn’t require guests to complete COVID-19 tests, all 20 were expected to practice social distancing in the lead-up. “It was planned for some time, and everyone had to be extremely cautious leading up to the big day because the Queen was in attendance,” the source said. “They had to make sure everyone who was attending was in perfect health.”
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The couple was previously expected to marry on May 19 in front of 150 guests at the Chapel Royal in London’s St. James Palace, but the wedding was postponed in mid-April following the U.K. coronavirus lockdown. A source told People at the time that the ceremony would remain “low-key” moving forward.
Beatrice and Mozzi’s downsized wedding reportedly delivered on that promise. People‘s source referred to the nuptials at All Saints Chapel at Royal Lodge Windsor as “very private, intimate and romantic.” In addition to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Beatrice’s parents Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson were in attendance alongside her younger sister Princess Eugenie and brother-in-law Jack Brooksbank. Town & Country also confirmed that Wolfie, Mozzi’s four-year-old son from a previous relationship “played an important role in the wedding.”
Buckingham Palace announced the wedding news earlier today in a statement that read:
“The private wedding ceremony of Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi took place at 11 a.m. on Friday 17th July at The Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge, Windsor. The small ceremony was attended by the Queen [Elizabeth II], the Duke of Edinburgh [Prince Philip] and close family. The wedding took place in accordance with all relevant Government Guidelines.”
The source told People that Beatrice and Mozzi will celebrate their marriage with a “small party” following the ceremony and organize a honeymoon next month.
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