Princess Beatrice’s royal wedding plans on hold over coronavirus

Princess Beatrice has put her royal wedding plans with fiancé Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi for May 29 on hold over the coronavirus pandemic.

The couple were due to marry at St James’s Palace in London, before Beatrice’s grandmother the Queen hosted a private reception in Buckingham Palace’s gardens.

But royal officials revealed today that this reception has been cancelled – and the couple could now host a private marriage with a ‘small group of family and friends’.  

Princess Beatrice and her fiancé Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, pictured on August 31 last year 

Some 150 guests had been due at the ceremony for the wedding of Beatrice – Prince Andrew’s eldest daughter – which was set to be one of the social events of 2020. 

London-born Millionaire property tycoon Mr Mapelli Mozzi, 37, has dual British and Italian citizenship. Italy – the worst-hit European country by the virus – is in lockdown.

It continues a torrid six months for Beatrice, whose father Prince Andrew stepped down from his royal duties in the wake of a car crash BBC interview last November.

Andrew was grilled over his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, but he has denied sleeping with a 17-year-old who claims she was forced to have sex with him.

Mr Mozzi and Beatrice after the Christmas Day 2019 morning church service at Sandringham

The couple were due to marry at the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace in London (file image)

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said today: ‘Beatrice and Mr Mapelli Mozzi are very much looking forward to getting married but are equally aware of the need to avoid undertaking any unnecessary risks in the current circumstances. 

‘In line with government advice for the UK and beyond, the couple are reviewing their arrangements. They are particularly conscious of government advice in relation to both the wellbeing of older family members and large gatherings of people. 

‘Therefore, the planned reception in the Buckingham Palace Gardens will not take place.

‘The couple will carefully consider government advice before deciding whether a private marriage might take place amongst a small group of family and friends.’

The Queen greets Captain Angus Essenhigh (left), new HMS Queen Elizabeth Commanding Officer, and his predecessor Commodore Steven Moorhouse, at Buckingham Palace today

The Queen was seen today at a private audience at Buckingham Palace for her last official engagement before decamping to Windsor for weeks of self-isolation.

The 93-year-old greeted Captain Angus Essenhigh, the new Commanding Officer of HMS Queen Elizabeth, and his predecessor Commodore Steven Moorhouse.

There were bows from the captain and the commodore but no handshakes as they met and spoke with the monarch in the audience room of the Queen’s London home.

Tomorrow , the Queen will decamp to Windsor Castle, her Berkshire royal residence, as she socially distances herself amid the coronavirus pandemic hitting the UK.