Princess Beatrice and Edoardo: a love story despite rollercoaster years

The royal Princess, ninth in line to the throne, met her future husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi a long time ago. He was a 'family friend' that became something more. They have a relationship that seems to have strengthened over the recent years, especially as Beatrice struggles with family scandal and her increasing duties within royal life has led her to a new role and responsibility.

The couple had previously tried to stay away from the press. Despite their preference for privacy, Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, have a relationship that has, of course, been traced by the media.

Before their love began, the Princess has previously always kept herself to herself when it came to dating. We do know that, before she met Edoardo, she was in a nearly ten-year relationship with former Uber exec Dave Clark until they split in 2016.

But a few years later, there were whispers around that the Princess had finally found her Prince Charming. In Autumn 2018, it was revealed that Beatrice had been seeing an 'old family friend'. This turned out to be the handsome and rich property developer, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi is British-Italian visionary and businessman. He is a single dad to his son, Christopher Woolf, also known as 'Wolfie'. Mozzi founded real estate firm Banda in 2007. It's a company that specialises in finding and developing homes for wealthy clients. But how did the Princess and this multimillionaire come to meet?

It turns out that Edoardo's late step-father, Christopher Shale, was close friends with Beatrice's parents, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. They were part of the 'family friend' group and Beatrice even attended Shale's funeral in 2011.

Beatrice and 'Edo' (as the Princess nicknames her husband) seemed to be reunited again in 2018. According to the British tabloid at the time, Beatrice was at a party hosted by Indian billionaire, Lakshmi Mittal Diwali, and was introducing Edo Mapelli Mozzi as her boyfriend.

According to The Sun at the time, "Beatrice and Edo have the same circle of friends and were introduced through a mutual chum ... They hit it off instantly and have a real laugh together. They’ve been on holiday together and Beatrice introduced him to Fergie and her dad. Things are moving very quickly and it wouldn’t surprise anyone if they got engaged within a short period of time."

Edo's father is his mother's first husband who is actually a Count! Count Alessandro "Alex" Mapelli Mozzi, is the son of Italian aristocrat Count Gian Paolo Mapelli Mozzi. For Count Alex, however, the slopes gave him a higher calling and he even competed for Britain in the 1972 Olympics as an alpine skier.

When the two reunited, Edo had recently split from architect Dara Huang, the Sun and the Daily Mail reported. Edo and Dara had reportedly been engaged for four years at the time and lived together, sharing a young son. Edo wrote on his Instagram about Wolfie, "Being a father increases your capacity for love. It opens up another door in a person — a door which you may not even have known was there," he wrote, tagging his little guy's private Instagram account.

Then, in early January 2019, the Mail on Sunday reported that Princess Beatrice took her new beau on holiday together to Lamu, an island off the coast of Kenya where Edoardo's family owns real estate. According to the newspaper, Beatrice was seen chatting with Edo's mother and dancing on a hotel bar after midnight on New Year's Eve. She was already becoming part of the family.

In 2019, Princess Beatrice and Edo Mapelli Mozzi made their first official public appearance together at the National Portrait Gallery Gala in London on March 12.

The two were then spotted on their next international trip, when they flew to the United States in March of 2019. They looked at ease, smiling as they took in the sights and went shopping.

The couple had been spotted a few times going out for quiet dinners together at London's hottest venues. Here they were spotted leaving the 34 Mayfair restaurant in London on April 15, 2019, after having dinner with her mother, Sarah, Duchess of York.

A source told the Sun on Sunday that Edo and Beatrice had started living together not long after. "Edo has moved in with Beatrice at her apartment in St. James's Palace [in London] and spends most of his time there," said the source. "They can hardly keep their hands off each other and spend every moment they can together. I don't know if he has actually got down on one knee with a ring yet but they are openly talking about marriage and it will either be later this year or possibly early in 2020."

On Sept. 26, 2019, Buckingham Palace announced the engagement of Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. Edo had proposed to the royal in Italy earlier on in the month. "We are both so excited to be embarking on this life adventure together and can't wait to be married," the couple said in a statement. "We share so many similar interests and values and we know this will stand us in great stead for the years ahead."

Photo: Instagram / @beatrice.of.york

A month before they were due to be wed, Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi postponed their royal wedding, due to the global coronavirus crisis. They were already forced to cancel the reception part of their big day, which was initially to be held in the grounds of Buckingham Palace, but this was sad news for the couple.

Despite the set-back, a spokesperson told People magazine that the couple will have their time: "There are no plans to switch venues or hold a bigger wedding. They aren't even thinking about their wedding at this time. There will come a time to rearrange, but that's not yet."

In fact, no official invitations were even sent out for their wedding day, due to be held in May 2021. A source told People magazine that because of COVID-19 concerns, "the invitations were never actually sent out."

They finally married in a quiet and peaceful ceremony on 17th July at Windsor. Buckingham Palace had confirmed that the couple exchanged vows at The Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge, where her father, Prince Andrew, and his ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York lived.

Photo: Instagram @princesseugenie

Princess Beatrice of York got married to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi during the pandemic, and the joyous occasion was announced by Buckingham Palace on July 17, 2020. It was a small, socially distanced ceremony but the couple just couldn't wait to tie the knot.

Many were in awe of the Princess' dress that was previously on display at Windsor Castle. In fact, the Princess never fails to impress with her style - photos show the developing Princess throughout her young and teenage years coming into her own and pushing the boundaries of royal dress.

As all seemed to be going right for the Princess, scandal hit and family life took a turn for the worst.

Prince Andrew lost his royal and military titles and would no longer be known as HRH. Finally, his existence in the line for succession was eradicated. The scandal of Prince Andrew's involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein case has profoundly changed his daughters' lives. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams claimed in The Express that, after Andrew's recent stripping of his titles, it seemed that Beatrice's hope of moving up in the hierarchy had been damaged.

Fitzwilliams stated that the lawsuit between Andrew and Virginia Giuffre affected the royal princesses emotionally. He also added that they were a close family, telling The Express: "The Yorks are a close-knit family and this will be devastating for them."

Royal commentator Neil Sean told the Express that the removal of Prince Andrew from public life has caused his two daughters to have been "struggling." It's been especially difficult in their relationship with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

"There is a big story breaking in the Royal Family that has remained under the radar largely, and it’s to do with Prince William, the Duchess of Cambridge, and William’s father Prince Charles," he told the Express.

Neil Sean shared that, "According to very good sources, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice are seemingly struggling to remain cordial with Prince William, Catherine, and Charles...'

'...It stems from the deal organised by William, the Queen, and Prince Charles to remove their father, Prince Andrew, from royal duties following his disgrace in recent years," the royal commentator continued.

According to royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams, both Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice were hoping to move up the ranks in the royal hierarchy - especially as the exit of Harry and Meghan from the Firm freed up a few top spots. This was all before the death of Her Majesty The Queen. The passing of their grandmother seems to have really changed things.

Now, in the wake of The Queen's death, Beatrice is now the fourth in line to the throne over 21 years of age and is likely to become one of four counsellors of state. This responsibility will mean King Charles can call on her to stand in for him should be be unable to. Beatrice is also able to attend Privy Council meetings (the council to the reigning monarch).

If examples are anything to go by, Beatrice will take on the responsibilities as duty requires with her husband by her side. The couple have come out the other side of controversy, mainly by keeping their dignified distance from the media and showing their family unity.