Princess Beatrice opens up about her lockdown wedding for the first time

Rebecca Taylor
·Royal Correspondent
Updated ·3-min read

Princess Beatrice has opened up about her lockdown wedding for the first time, calling the day “so much fun”.

Beatrice married Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in Windsor in July, in a secret ceremony after government restrictions eased.

They had been planning a grander day in London, complete with a wedding reception in Buckingham Palace’s gardens, but the day had to be postponed and then dramatically changed when coronavirus restrictions took hold.

Beatrice had not yet spoken about the wedding, but chose to share a snippet about it with supporters of the Forget Me Not charity as she revealed competition winners.

Announcing the second place winner of a drawing competition, she said: “Chloe, Russell Bear at a wedding, do you think this might be my wedding?

“I had a chance to get married this summer, and it was so much fun.

“I’m not sure I looked as smart as Russell Bear does in his outfit.”

The royal was wearing the same dress she was snapped in on Wednesday as she visited an exhibition in Windsor Castle featuring her wedding dress.

Beatrice, one of the Queen’s granddaughters, was able to borrow a gown from the monarch for the big day.

She wore a vintage Norman Hartnell dress, first worn by Her Majesty in the 1960s.

The dress was altered and sleeves were added for Beatrice.

Embargoed: Not for publication or onward transmission before 2200 BST Saturday July 18, 2020. NEWS EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO COMMERCIAL USE. NO MERCHANDISING, ADVERTISING, SOUVENIRS, MEMORABILIA or COLOURABLY SIMILAR. NOT FOR USE AFTER 18th January 2021 WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION FROM BUCKINGHAM PALACE. NO CROPPING. Copyright in the photograph is vested in Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Benjamin Wheeler. Publications are asked to credit the photograph to Benjamin Wheeler. No charge should be made for the supply, release or publication of the photograph. The photograph must not be digitally enhanced, manipulated or modified in any manner or form and must include all of the individuals in the photograph when published. This official wedding photograph released by the Royal Communications of Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi shows them outside The Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge, Windsor after their wedding with Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. Issue date: Saturday July 18, 2020. See PA story ROYAL Beatrice. Photo credit should read: Benjamin Wheeler/PA Wire.
Beatrice and Edoardo with the Queen and Prince Philip on their wedding day in July. (Benjamin Wheeler/PA Wire)

Read more: Princess Beatrice and Edo release wedding photos with Queen after secret ceremony

The couple released a small selection of photos of their wedding day after the event. Prince Andrew, her father, was not present in any of them, but was at the wedding.

Writing on Instagram after the wedding, Sarah Ferguson, Beatrice’s mother, said: “Thank you to all the very special and kind people that took the time and trouble to send amazingly caring and supportive messages.

“Never has a mother been more proud than the wedding of Eugenie and Jack, and again with my Beatrice’s loving wedding to Dear Edo. I am so lucky with my girls, and now the best sons-in-law.”

Eugenie, Beatrice’s sister, shared her own warm words for her older sister.

She wrote: “Couldn't Bea happier (get it) 🐝... ⁣

“What a complete joy and privilege to watch you, my beautiful big sister, walk down the aisle to dear Edo. I am so proud of you and I'm so excited to support you in the next chapter of your life. We are going to have so much fun together. ⁣

“Happy wedding day to you both xxxx”

NEWS EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO COMMERCIAL USE. NO MERCHANDISING, ADVERTISING, SOUVENIRS, MEMORABILIA or COLOURABLY SIMILAR. NOT FOR USE AFTER 18th January 2021 WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION FROM BUCKINGHAM PALACE. NO CROPPING. Copyright in the photograph is vested in Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Benjamin Wheeler. Publications are asked to credit the photograph to Benjamin Wheeler. No charge should be made for the supply, release or publication of the photograph. The photograph must not be digitally enhanced, manipulated or modified in any manner or form and must include all of the individuals in the photograph when published. This official wedding photograph released by the Royal Communications of Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi showing them in the grounds of the Royal Lodge, after their wedding.
Beatrice was able to borrow a dress from the Queen for her big day. (Benjamin Wheeler)
WINDSOR, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Princess Beatrice poses alongside her wedding dress as it goes on display at Windsor Castle on September 23, 2020 in Windsor, England. Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi married on July 18, 2020 in Windsor. (Photo by Steve Parsons - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Princess Beatrice poses alongside her wedding dress as it goes on display at Windsor Castle on September 23, 2020. Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi married on July 18, 2020 in Windsor. (Photo by Steve Parsons - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Eugenie also announced big news of her own on Friday, as the palace shared that she is pregnant with her first child.

Eugenie married Jack Brooksbank in Windsor in October 2018.

Beatrice and Mozzi have known each other for some time, but started dating after meeting again at Eugenie’s wedding, it’s understood.

They were quickly rumoured to be preparing to walk down the aisle, and confirmed they were engaged in September last year.

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