Over the last few days, we've learned some more details about Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi's quiet wedding. The Daily Mail reports that the wedding was put together by the bride's and groom's mothers in just three weeks. The reason they chose that day? A surprise opening in the schedule of their most special guest, Queen Elizabeth.
Beatrice and Edo became husband and wife at All Saints Chapel in Windsor Great Park. About 20 of their loved ones were in attendance. They adhered to social distancing guidelines and ensured everyone's health prior to exposing them to the Queen and Prince Philip. Following their 30-minute ceremony, the couple enjoyed a reception at Royal Lodge, the residence of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.
Andrew reportedly walked Beatrice down the aisle, though he is not in any of the officially released photographs. There's been a lot of talk about the FBI's interest in speaking with the Duke of York. Some have wondered if the seemingly sudden wedding had anything to do with that.
Whatever the reason, Beatrice looked happy on her big day. It was very important to her for her grandparents to attend. After many setbacks, Bea is happy they were able to make it work.
Princess Beatrice's royal wedding caught many by surprise. Last we'd heard, Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi were planning on marrying in 2021. Now we're learning how the couple may have come to choosing a Friday in July to say "I do."
Beatrice and Edo originally planned on marrying in May, but shutdowns led to them canceling. With this quiet wedding, Beatrice is the first royal bride to marry behind closed doors in 235 years. The couple exchanged vows at All Saints Chapel in Windsor Great Park.
So how did it happen? Last month, the UK government made mention of beginning to allow weddings again, with restrictions. That was enough to get the bride's and groom's mothers, Sarah Ferguson and Nicola Williams-Ellis, to start planning.
Beatrice and Edo were staying with Edo's parents at their home in the Cotswolds. After the disappointment of their canceled wedding, they decided they wanted to get married as soon as it was possible.
In three weeks, the moms coordinated florists and caterers to make the day possible. As for the date, a source told People magazine that they were open to whatever the Queen could fit into her schedule.
"The Queen was the guest of honor, and it was very important that she was there," the source noted.
Their guests, who were sworn to secrecy, were also aware that something might happen pretty quickly. Their health was being monitored to ensure the Queen's safety.
"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. They had to make sure everyone who was attending was in perfect health."
On the big day, the Queen's influence could be felt. Beatrice wore a vintage ivory peau de soie taffeta dress by Norman Hartnell. Not only was the dress by the same designer who made the Queen's wedding gown, but it was a gown that had belonged to the Queen as well.
Beatrice also wore the Queen Mary tiara, which Queen Elizabeth wore on her wedding day and lent to Princess Anne for her own. "The Queen saved this grand tiara specifically for Beatrice. It was always reserved for her as they are exceptionally close," People's source revealed.
The moms each read favorite poems of the bride and groom. They chose "I Carry You in My Heart" by E. E. Cummings, which Edo used as the caption of wedding photos he shared, and Shakespeare's Sonnet 116. There was also a biblical reading, St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 13, verses 1 to 13.
Princess Eugenie served as Beatrice's matron of honor. Edo's 4-year-old son, Wolfie, served as best man and a page boy. Edo's 5-year-old niece and 3-year-old nephew also served as bridesmaid and page boy.
The reception at Royal Lodge was said to feature carefully curated catering and specialty cocktails. Beatrice was said to be beaming at the "whirlwind" wedding. The new Mr. and Mrs. Mapelli Mozzi even had a bouncy castle at their event.
The couple was said to have had about 20 guests who received overnight accommodations at Royal Lodge and glamping pods on the grounds. Beatrice and Edo shared one of those pods for their first night as husband and wife.
Following the wedding, Beatrice's bouquet of springs of myrtle, trailing jasmine, pale pink and cream sweet peas, royal porcelain ivory spray roses, pink O'Hara garden roses, pink waxflower and baby pink astilbe was placed on the tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey, as is tradition for royal bridal bouquets.
Despite walking Beatrice down the aisle and giving a speech at the reception that followed, Prince Andrew has not been in any of the photos that have been released. Many believe that increased interest in Andrew following the arrest of Ghislaine Maxwell may have played a part in the urgency of this wedding.
Andrew's name has come up quite a bit in the investigations into Jeffrey Epstein. The arrest makes it possible that Andrew may be at increased risk, both in the sense of his safety and the sense of the law.
Dario Mapelli Mozzi, Edo's cousin once removed, shared two popular theories, according to the Daily Mail. One involves Andrew, and the other involves the Queen.
"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," he said.
"Or perhaps because of the problems with her father they didn't want to go overboard with publicity in case anyone criticized them."
You can't help but notice how different it is from Princess Eugenie's 2018 wedding. Prince Andrew was such a central figure at the event that he leaves a glaring absence at this celebration, even though we can intellectually understand why the royal family won't be releasing any photos he is featured in.
Their continued silence on the matter of Andrew and investigators' interest in speaking with him does not obscure the elephant in the room. Though Beatrice's day was truly beautiful, it's hard not to wonder if the royals are fearing that the other shoe is about to drop and there isn't much they can do to stop it.
