LONDON – Princess Beatrix, the eldest daughter of British Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, married on Friday in a small ceremony, Buckingham Palace confirmed.
The red-haired royal property magnate married Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi at the private ceremony in the All Saints’ Royal Chapel at the Royal Lodge in Windsor.
The bride’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh and her close family attended, Buckingham Palace said in a statement, and the ceremony was carried out in accordance with all relevant government directives.
As a result, it was a reduced matter due to current social restrictions across the country to deal with the current coronavirus pandemic.
Beatrice got engaged to Mozzi in September 2019, while on a weekend trip to Italy.
The couple had planned to get married in May in the Royal Chapel at St James’s Palace in London, where Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in 1840. The reception would be held in the grounds of Buckingham Palace.
But as thousands of Britons have experienced, the COVID-19 crisis ruined their nuptial plans.
Official government guidelines limit wedding ceremonies in England to around 30 people, who must also abide by the rules of social distancing. Big reception parties are shortened with limited food and music, and grooms are encouraged to wash their hands before exchanging rings.
The measures have ruled out all large-scale celebrations and have forced thousands of couples in England to postpone or delay their ceremonies.
“We are both very excited to embark on this life adventure together,” the couple said in a joint statement when they got engaged last year. “We share so many similar interests and values and we know that this will help us for years to come, full of love and happiness.”
Their wedding came two years after Beatriz’s sister Princess Eugenie married tequila executive Jack Brooksbank at St. George’s Chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle, the same location where Prince Harry and Meghan , Duchess of Sussex, had their fanfare ceremony in May 2018.
