Inside Princess Beatrice's Secret Wedding
Princess Beatrice and Edoardo "Edo" Mapelli Mozzi are officially husband and wife! And like many events that have taken place amid the coronavirus pandemic, plans for the wedding were, shall we say, adjusted.
The couple traded vows at a secret ceremony on July 17, 2020, in front of a small private party of close friends and family. The event took place at All Saints Chapel in Windsor Great Park, which is a short drive from Windsor Castle, according to the Daily Mail. In attendance were Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Beatrice's father, Prince Andrew, and around 20 more guests, as Buckingham Palace noted in a statement to People. "The wedding took place in accordance with all relevant Government Guidelines," the announcement added.
Beatrice, the daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, got engaged to Edo in September 2019, with the real estate developer taking a knee during a trip to Italy, according to the BBC. They were due to tie the knot in a much larger event at St. James Palace in London with a reception at Buckingham Palace, but those May 2020 plans got dashed due to COVID-19, People reported.
The palace didn't give a new date at the time, and the royals opted for a much quieter and socially distanced occasion. But just because the big wedding plans got scrapped, it doesn't mean the affair wasn't up to snuff — here's everything you need to know about Beatrice and Edo's secret wedding ceremony.
Princess Beatrice's wedding was full of love
Although it was a small affair, Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi's nuptials included the most important people in their lives. Proud grandparents Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip attended, which is especially significant since the Duke of Edinburgh rarely makes public appearances since his retirement in August 2017, the Daily Mail noted.
It's also worth mentioning that the Queen left the bash early to knight Captain Sir Tom Moore at Windsor Castle, an event that got planned ahead of time. "It was all about the Queen's schedule," The Queen was the guest of honor, and it was very important that she was there," an insider explained to People. "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."
Edo's young son, Wolfie, who was born in 2016, also attended. "[Wolfie] played an important role in the wedding," a source told Town & Country. Aww.
It's unclear if the couple will throw a party to celebrate the nuptials, although it's obvious the internet is delighted about their union. "Yay princess Beatrice got married this morning. Best way to do it, without any hassle, only the necessary people there," one Twitter user wrote. "I'm so happy for Princess Beatrice and Edo," someone else said. "So many wedding plans were ripped up and I'm glad celebrations of love are beginning again."