Beatrice poses with new husband Edoardo and her grandparents after socially distanced wedding


Smiling with pride, the Queen and Prince Philip may have been required to keep their distance from newlyweds Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi – but a Royal relationship has rarely been closer.

Beatrice married on Friday wearing both a tiara and vintage dress generously lent to her by her grandmother, deeply conscious that the 31-year-old was missing out on a traditional large wedding.

Instead, the hastily arranged ceremony was attended only by close friends and family following the cancellation of a larger wedding in May due to lockdown.

Beatrice was walked down the aisle by her father Prince Andrew, but there was no sign of him in any of the pictures released by the Palace. 

The princess was adamant her beloved grandparents should have the opportunity to see her exchange her vows with Edo, 37 – Government guidelines permitting – so chose the Chapel of All Saints on the Windsor estate, where the Queen, 94, often attends services.

It was the first Royal wedding behind closed doors for 235 years and the first ‘public’ engagement for the Duke of Edinburgh in a year. The 99-year-old last appeared at Lady Gabriella Windsor’s wedding last May. 

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip stand alongside Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi outside The Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge, Windsor, after their wedding on July 18, 2020

Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi stand in the doorway of The Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge, Windsor, after their wedding on July 18, 2020

Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi stand in the doorway of The Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge, Windsor, after their wedding on July 18, 2020

The wedding bridged three Royal generations – with Princess Beatrice becoming a stepmother to Edo’s son Wolfie, four, who acted as both best man and page boy alongside his two young cousins. Beatrice’s sister Eugenie, 30, was maid of honour.

A small party was held afterwards at Royal Lodge, Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York’s Windsor home, with many of the 20 guests staying overnight – some in glamping pods outdoors.

The photographs were released yesterday to ensure that they did not overshadow the ceremony on Friday to confer a knighthood on Captain Tom Moore, the former Army officer who raised £33 million for charity in a sponsored walk leading up to his 100th birthday in April.

THE DRESS

The Queen lent Princess Beatrice the tiara that she wore at her own wedding and a vintage gown first worn to a glitzy film premiere almost 60 years ago.

In an astonishing double display of generosity, unmatched for any previous Royal bride, the monarch made every effort to ensure that her granddaughter’s wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi was an occasion for the couple to remember.

It was an acknowledgement not only that lockdown had denied Beatrice the wedding-day fanfare enjoyed by her sister Eugenie and cousins William and Harry, but also of the distress of seeing her father’s reputation wrecked by his links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. 

The Queen alongside the Duke of Edinburgh as they leave Westminster Abbey after their marriage on November 20, 1947. The Queen is wearing the same tiara that was worn by Princess Beatrice at her wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi on Friday

The Queen alongside the Duke of Edinburgh as they leave Westminster Abbey after their marriage on November 20, 1947. The Queen is wearing the same tiara that was worn by Princess Beatrice at her wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi on Friday

Queen Elizabeth II arriving at the Odeon in London's Leicester Square for the Lawrence of Arabia film premiere on December 10, 1962. The Queen is wearing the same Peau De Soie taffeta dress by Norman Hartnell that was worn by Beatrice on Friday

Queen Elizabeth II arriving at the Odeon in London’s Leicester Square for the Lawrence of Arabia film premiere on December 10, 1962. The Queen is wearing the same Peau De Soie taffeta dress by Norman Hartnell that was worn by Beatrice on Friday

Some have speculated that concerns over social distancing is why the wedding was held in secret so as to avoid crowds of well-wishers gathering nearby and potentially breaching government guidelines. 

Family friends insisted the secretive nature of the wedding was not down to Andrew, who is noticeably absent from the official photographs, and his issues over the Epstein scandal.

The FBI wants to question him over his close friendship with the convicted paedophile, who killed himself while awaiting trial on further charges last summer.

Pressure on Andrew, 60, intensified following the arrest in the US of his close friend, Epstein’s ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.

However, the sources said the secrecy was explained by Beatrice and Edo’s desire for a quiet, private ceremony and the fact they did not want to overshadow Sir Tom’s knighting at Windsor.

But Dario Mapelli Mozzi, Edo’s cousin once removed, told the Mail: ‘We heard it was postponed to next year but that was clearly to keep it secret. Maybe they did it now to be sure that the Queen would be there.

Princess Beatrice's wedding bouquet in Westminster Abbey in London which, like those of other Royal brides, is traditionally placed on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.

Princess Beatrice’s wedding bouquet in Westminster Abbey in London which, like those of other Royal brides, is traditionally placed on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.

‘Or perhaps because of the problems with her father they didn’t want to go overboard with publicity in case anyone criticised them.’

The wedding may have lacked pomp and pizzazz but it had intimacy, with 20 guests witnessing the couple exchange their vows.

Edo’s four-year-old son Wolfie served as both best man and page boy, while his niece Coco Yeomans, five, was a bridesmaid alongside her pageboy brother Freddie, three.

The party-loving Yorks ensured a high-spirited reception, featuring speciality cocktails, bespoke catering, an exquisitely decorated Indian-style tent, a bouncy castle and glamping pods for overnight guests. Beatrice was said to be ‘thrilled and super-excited’, telling a friend: ‘It’s been such a whirlwind.’

HOW THE MUMS LEAPT INTO ACTION

Sarah Ferguson and Edo’s mum Nicola Williams-Ellis leapt into action as soon as the Government hinted last month that weddings would soon be permitted again.

During lockdown, Beatrice had been staying with Edo and her future mother-in-law in the £2 million Cotswold house Nicola shares with sculptor husband David, Edo’s stepfather.

Reverend Anthony Ball, Canon of Westminster. in Westminster Abbey with Princess Beatrice's wedding bouquet on Friday

Reverend Anthony Ball, Canon of Westminster. in Westminster Abbey with Princess Beatrice’s wedding bouquet on Friday

The young couple were ‘desperately sad’ that plans for a wedding at St James’s Chapel Royal in May with 150 guests and a reception at Buckingham Palace had to be cancelled, and resolved to marry ‘whenever possible’.

But they had only three weeks to organise caterers and florists, and for the Queen’s dresser Angela Kelly to help remodel and refit the 1960s Norman Hartnell evening gown to serve as a wedding dress.

Meanwhile, Canon Paul Wright, sub-dean of the Chapel Royal, and Canon Martin Poll, the Queen’s domestic chaplain, who officiated on Friday, hurriedly arranged the special wedding licence from the Archbishop of Canterbury.

THE NIGHT BEFORE

Guests were sworn to secrecy, with overnight accommodation provided at Royal Lodge, Andrew and Fergie’s grand Windsor home.

Edo’s sister Natalia, 38, and her husband Tod Yeomans, 36, arrived with their two children Coco and Freddie on Thursday afternoon for a quick rehearsal.

Edo’s father, Olympic skier Count Alessandro Mapelli Mozzi, flew in from France, and maid of honour Eugenie, 30, joined the ‘rehearsal dinner’ with husband Jack Brooksbank.

Princess Beatrice's wedding bouquet in Westminster Abbey in London on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior on Friday

Princess Beatrice’s wedding bouquet in Westminster Abbey in London on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior on Friday

Beatrice and Edo broke with tradition by spending the night before the wedding together.

GLAMPING NEWLYWEDS

The secluded Chapel of All Saints is opposite Royal Lodge, so Prince Andrew walked the bride to the church and down the aisle. The Queen and Prince Philip had slipped in a through a side entrance, thus maintaining social distancing.

The church was decorated with pink and white delphiniums, roses, waxflower and hydrangeas from Windsor Great Park.

Beatrice carried a bouquet of trailing jasmine, pale pink and cream sweet peas, royal porcelain ivory spray roses, pink O’Hara garden roses, pink waxflower, baby pink astilbe and sprigs of myrtle. During the 30-minute service,

Sarah Ferguson and Mrs Williams-Ellis read the bride andgroom’s favourite poems: I Carry You In My Heart by E E Cummings and Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116.

There was no singing, but a selection of music was played together with the National Anthem.

Later, wedding photographs were taken, including two released to the media yesterday. Neither features Andrew.

The wedding breakfast was in a blue-and-white themed open-sided luxury Indian tent at Royal Lodge.

Society caterers Spook London provided canapes and a sit-down lunch with wine and champagne.

Their £110-a-head wedding menu includes cured sea trout with capers, dill and lemon, chorizo and ricotta salad with toasted quinoa and fillet steak.

Andrew and Edo gave speeches and the newlyweds enjoyed their first night together as man and wife in a special glamping pod.

Edo and Bea are not thought to have any immediate honeymoon plans and hope to celebrate their wedding later in the year with a ‘huge party’.

A friend said: ‘They are just delighted they could marry in front of their family and closest friends.

It was particularly special that the Queen and Duke could come.’

Prince Andrew was yesterday, right, seen driving away from Royal Lodge.

He was wearing a rugby-style jersey emblazoned with the Order of the Garter motto: Honi soit qui maly pense – meaning ‘May he be shamed who thinks badly of it’.

Beatrice’s ultimate ‘something borrowed’: Second-hand taffata gown with bodice encrusted with diamante designed by Sir Norman Hartnell was a huge message of support from the Queen, writes ALEXANDRA SHULMAN 

For Princess Beatrice, this was the ultimate ‘something borrowed’.

Fashion is so often used to make a statement and this gown, personally loaned by the Queen, sends a huge message of her support to a much-loved granddaughter on her wedding day.

The Queen Mary tiara – worn by the Queen when she married Prince Philip in 1947 and loaned to her only daughter Princess Anne on hers – also signifies the warmth of feeling.

Queen Elizabeth II arriving at the Odeon in London's Leicester Square for the Lawrence of Arabia film premiere on December 10, 1962

Beatrice on Friday

Queen Elizabeth II arriving at the Odeon in London’s Leicester Square for the Lawrence of Arabia film premiere on December 10, 1962 (left). The Queen is wearing the same Peau De Soie taffeta dress by Norman Hartnell that was worn by Beatrice on Friday (right) 

Beatrice’s decision to get married in a second-hand gown is interesting and, I must say, pleasantly surprising and touching.

A very traditional design, it is beautifully crafted from peau de soie taffeta and features a geometric, chequered bodice encrusted with diamanté.

There have been amendments to the original, of course, to allow for Beatrice’s height and the modesty of a Royal bride in church. Angela Kelly, the Queen’s personal dresser, and Stewart Parvin, Her Majesty’s favourite dressmaker, remodelled and refitted the dress to Beatrice’s size and tastes.

A longer sleeve, for example, might have been more fashionable but then Beatrice has never been in thrall to fashion labels and the puffed organza sleeves show her playful style. A sleek trim of ivory Duchess satin at the bottom of the gown allows for added length.

The dress was designed by Sir Norman Hartnell and worn by Her Majesty at the 1962 film premiere of Lawrence Of Arabia at London’s Leicester Square Odeon where the Queen met leading man Peter O’Toole.

Hartnell had an astonishing rise to fame from creating uniforms for Selfridges ‘lift girls’ in the early 1920s to designing for royalty.

Besides designing two of the most important dresses of the 20th Century – the Queen’s wedding dress and the outfit for her 1953 Coronation – he is also credited with turning London into a fashion hub to rival Paris.

A patriotic choice for Beatrice, then, as well as a personal one. It also plays to the trend for vintage dresses and sustainable fashion. The bride doesn’t traditionally give a speech at her wedding but with this beautiful, romantic gown created 26 years before she was born, Beatrice spoke volumes.

 

GLITTERING HISTORY OF BEA’S DIAMOND TIARA

The Queen Mary diamond fringe tiara

The Queen Mary diamond fringe tiara

The Queen allowed her 31-year-old granddaughter, Princess Beatrice, to wear the same tiara she wore at her own wedding in 1947.

The Queen Mary diamond fringe tiara, fashioned in 1919 from a necklace given to the current Queen’s grandmother by Queen Victoria, is a treasured heirloom.

It was lent to the Queen, then Princess Elizabeth, as her ‘something borrowed’. But two hours before the ceremony, a hairdresser securing Elizabeth’s veil with the tiara snapped part of it.

The tiara was rushed to maker Garrard’s London workshop where it was hurriedly welded back together and returned just in time.

The tiara was also loaned to Princess Anne for her wedding to Mark Phillips in 1973, but has rarely been seen in public since.

PRECIOUS HEIRLOOM: Queen Mary wearing the tiara in 1926

PRECIOUS HEIRLOOM: Queen Mary wearing the tiara in 1926

The tiara was also worn by the Queen (pictured in 1947)

Princess Anne has previously worn the tiara (pictured in 1973)

The tiara was also worn by the Queen (left) in 1947 and Princess Anne (right) in 1973

Princess Beatrice follows Royal Myrtle tradition for her stunning bridal bouquet, made by master florist behind younger sister Eugenie’s wedding display, before laying them on the grave of the Unknown Warrior

BySam Bakerand Tom Pymanand Stephanie Linning For Mailonline 

 Princess Beatrice upheld royal tradition as sprigs of myrtle were included in her breathtaking bridal bouquet.

The princess, who is ninth-in-line for the throne, married Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, yesterday at the Royal Chapel of All Saints, in the grounds of Royal Lodge, in Windsor Great Park.

Both the Queen and Prince Philip attended the wedding ceremony that was held in secret after the couple’s original plan to wed at the Chapel Royal of St James’s Palace, in London, on 29 May was postponed by coronavirus.

Princess Beatrice's bouquet is placed on the Unknown Warrior's Grave, following royal tradition

Princess Beatrice’s bouquet is placed on the Unknown Warrior’s Grave, following royal tradition

 It seems though the despite the unusual circumstances surrounding the wedding, royal tradition was maintained when it came to Beatrice’s floral decorations.

Traditionally, wedding bouquets held by royal brides contain sprigs of myrtle, and Princess Beatrice’s flowers were no different.

Describing Princess Beatrice’s bouquet, a royal representative said: ‘Princess Beatrice carried a bouquet of trailing jasmine, pale pink and cream sweet peas, royal porcelain ivory spray roses, pink o’hara garden roses, pink wax flower and baby pink astible. 

‘In keeping with Royal tradition sprigs of myrtle were included in the bouquet.

Reverend Anthony Ball, Canon of Westminster, prepares to place Princess Beatrice's bridal bouquet on the Unknown Warrior's Grave, in-keeping with royal tradition

Reverend Anthony Ball, Canon of Westminster, prepares to place Princess Beatrice’s bridal bouquet on the Unknown Warrior’s Grave, in-keeping with royal tradition

Bouquets are placed on the grave by royal brides as a touching tribute to the fallen of the First World War and international military conflicts since

Bouquets are placed on the grave by royal brides as a touching tribute to the fallen of the First World War and international military conflicts since

This tradition was first completed by the Queen Mother when she married King George VI in 1923

This tradition was first completed by the Queen Mother when she married King George VI in 1923

‘The bouquet was made by Patrice Van Helden, co owner of RVH Floral Design. The couple would like to thank the gardening teams at The Savill Garden and Windsor Great Park.

‘The Bride’s bouquet has been placed on the tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey.’

It is not known where the myrtle used in Princess Beatrice’s bouquet came from, but in previous royal weddings it has been taken from a bush planted by Queen Victoria.

atrice Van Helden, who put together the bridal bouquet for Beatrice also created the bouquet for her sister Eugenie when she married in 2018.

Princess Beatrice has married Italian property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in a secret ceremony at Windsor Castle. Pictured, a photo released to announce their engagement

Princess Beatrice has married Italian property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in a secret ceremony at Windsor Castle. Pictured, a photo released to announce their engagement 

The chapel is on the grounds of the Royal Lodge, where the Duke and Duchess of York have been staying in lockdown

The chapel is on the grounds of the Royal Lodge, where the Duke and Duchess of York have been staying in lockdown

WHO ARE ROB AND PATRICE VAN HELDEN? 

Rob Van Helden was born in the Netherlands and moved to London 33 years ago to develop his passion for flowers into a business.

His work is well known and over the years he has produced floral arrangements for stars such as Pierce Brosnan and Elton John.

Additionally he also produced the floral decorations and bouquet for Princess Eugenie’s wedding.

His sister Patrice, who is co-owner of RVH Floral Design, created the bouquet for Princess Beatrice.

Patrice normally works as part of Rob’s team when producing his floral arrangements. 

 Eugenie’s wedding bouquet consisted of Lily of the Valley, Stephanotis pips, hints of baby blue thistles, white spray roses and trailing ivy, as well as the myrtle.

The tradition of carrying myrtle began after Queen Victoria was given a nosegay containing myrtle by Prince Albert’s grandmother during a visit to Gotha in Germany.

Speaking to Country Living Uk, Maddie Dawkins, head of weddings at Lavender Green Flowers said: ‘Every royal bride since Queen Victoria’s daughter is said to have carried a sprig of myrtle in their bouquet. 

‘It symbolises love and hope, although some say also it represents fertility and innocence.’

The bouquet held by Meghan Markle in her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018 also contained the traditional myrtle.

Her flower arrangement was made up of: Forget-Me-Nots, which were Princess Diana’s favourite flower, sweet peas, lily of the valley, astilbe, jasmine, and astrantia.

The lily of the valley used in Meghan’s bouquet was also used by Kate in her wedding to Prince William and was included to honour Princess Diana. 

One bride who did not include the sprig of myrtle in recent history was Camilla who opted to include foliage from Cornwall instead. 

In-keeping with tradition, Eugenie’s flowers were placed on the Unknown Warrior’s Grave, just as her sister Beatrice’s have been this year.

The bridal bouquet is placed on the Unknown Warrior’s Grave by royal brides as a touching tribute to the fallen of the First World War and international military conflicts since.

This was first completed by the Queen Mother when she married King George VI in 1923. 

Another florist provided a glimpse on social media into how flowers were used to decorate Beatrice’s wedding ceremony.

The Phil good factor: Duke of Edinburgh looks back to his best beaming alongside the Queen in Princess Beatrice wedding picture

 Prince Philip looked happy and healthy as he smiled alongside the Queen after the secret wedding of Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

The Duke of Edinburgh, who celebrated his 99th birthday last month, attended the ceremony in Windsor in a rare public appearance since his official retirement in August 2017.

In an official photo released today, Prince Philip stood beside his wife of 73 years in a smart dark coloured suit, white shirt and striped tie, beaming at the newly married couple.

Like her husband, the Queen appeared in excellent spirits as they left the service and looked resplendent in mint green for the occasion. 

The couple posed with Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi outside the Royal Chapel of All Saints, in the grounds of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson’s home of Royal Lodge, in Windsor Great Park.

Prince Philip looked happy and healthy alongside his wife of 73 years Queen Elizabeth as he beamed at the Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in an official photo released today

Prince Philip looked happy and healthy alongside his wife of 73 years Queen Elizabeth as he beamed at the Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in an official photo released today

The bride's grandparents the Queen, 94, and the Duke of Edinburgh, 99, who have both been in isolation at Windsor Castle, were in attendance and appeared in excellent spirits as they left the service, pictured

The bride’s grandparents the Queen, 94, and the Duke of Edinburgh, 99, who have both been in isolation at Windsor Castle, were in attendance and appeared in excellent spirits as they left the service, pictured

 Prince Philip appeared in good health, standing unaided besides Queen Elizabeth despite recent bouts of ill health.

This is just the second official photograph of the Duke since the start of the year, though rumours about his health have persisted since he was hospitalised shortly before Christmas for a pre-existing medical condition.

Prince Philip spent four nights in hospital in December for what royal officials described as ‘observation and treatment’.

Prince Philip looked happy and healthy as he smiled alongside the Queen after the secret wedding of Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi at the Royal Chapel of All Saints

Prince Philip looked happy and healthy as he smiled alongside the Queen after the secret wedding of Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi at the Royal Chapel of All Saints

The Duke of Edinburgh leaves King Edward VII Hospital in London, after being admitted for observation and treatment in relation to a pre-existing condition on 24 December, 2019

The Duke of Edinburgh leaves King Edward VII Hospital in London, after being admitted for observation and treatment in relation to a pre-existing condition on 24 December, 2019

The ‘precautionary measure’ and unspecified condition renewed concerns about the duke’s health as he approaches his landmark 100th birthday. 

Philip has made few public appearances since officially retiring from public duties in 2017, though he did release a message thanking the medical community during the COVID pandemic.

Prior to that, the Duke of Edinburgh had a successful hip operation at the private King Edward VII hospital in Marylebone, central London, in 2018 shortly before the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. 

Sat in the backseat of a green Range Rover beside his wife of 73 years, the prince looked smart in a dark coloured suit, white shirt and striped tie

Sat in the backseat of a green Range Rover beside his wife of 73 years, the prince looked smart in a dark coloured suit, white shirt and striped tie

In January 2019, Philip emerged unscathed after his vehicle was involved in a traffic accident that injured two people near the Queen’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk.  

The couple are self-isolating at Windsor and, prior to the wedding, had reportedly not seen members of the family since the lockdown began in mid-March.

Philip enjoyed a quiet celebration for his birthday last month by sharing a special lunch with the Queen.

The Queen has now seen six of her eight grandchildren marry.

She and Prince Philip have been in isolation at their Windsor residence since the start of lockdown, allowing them to spend more time together than they have done in ‘many years’, one expert noted. 

To mark the duke’s milestone birthday last month, the Royal Family released a photo of released a new photograph of the couple standing side-by-side in the quadrangle at Windsor Castle.

In April Prince Philip came out of retirement to deliver a heartfelt thank you to key workers who are helping to make sure ‘the infrastructure of our life continues’ in the coronavirus pandemic.

The Duke of Edinburgh said he wanted to recognise the ‘vital and urgent’ medical and scientific work taking place to battle the deadly virus.