Princess Beatrice, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi Wedding Won’t Be Like These Royal Affairs

Hers may be the last royal wedding for a while, but that doesn’t mean Princess Beatrice will be taking the same steps as her cousin, Prince Harry, and sister, Princess Eugenie when it comes to her nuptials in 2020.

Beatrice, who announced her engagement to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in September, is reportedly considering eschewing royal traditions when it comes to her nuptials, and instead, may opt for a “low-key” affair at her parent’s estate. The decision to have a pared-back wedding marks a distinct departure from the large and grand affairs that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, as well Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, had at Windsor Castle in 2018.

According to the Mail on Sunday, among the things that will allegedly be cut out will be the use of the same venue as her sister and cousin, no carriage ride through the streets and no large-scale reception. In addition, she has reportedly told friends that she is even considering doing the wedding under a marquee at her parents’ home, the Royal Lodge at Windsor, with the plan to keep things more casual.

Among the reasons Princess Beatrice may be opting for a smaller affair are the fact that her fiancé does have a two-year-old son from his previous engagement to architect Dara Huang, and that she wants to not have a huge circus-like event with hundreds of guests and all of the pomp and circumstance out of respect for her future stepson’s mom.

“Beatrice has said she and Edo are looking at alternative venues because she wants something different. The wedding will not be in Italy and from what they are saying it won’t be in St. George's Chapel, Windsor, either. There have been three big Royal weddings there in the past year or so and I’m not sure that’s what Bea wants,” a friend told the publication. “Edo has a child, there’s the situation with his ex, and Beatrice might just feel something more low-key might be more fitting.”

Beatrice may also be considering something more low-key because of the backlash her sister got from her own royal affair, which cost taxpayers approximately £2 million when it came to security costs and was turned down by the BBC for television coverage.

As it turns out, while Prince William was likely expected to have a grand affair for his 2011 nuptials to Kate Middleton as a direct heir to the throne, and Prince Harry may also have been somewhat expected to do something large-scale because of his status and notoriety as Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s second son, Beatrice and Eugenie do not have to follow any of the royal protocols and traditions when it comes to engagements and weddings because of their lower-ranking within the family as ninth and tenth in line to the throne.

Because she is currently ninth in line and could be moved further down the hierarchy if either Meghan Markle or Middleton announce another pregnancy, Beatrice may be choosing to take advantage of the freedom being only a part-time royal affords her.

However, that doesn’t mean she hasn’t allegedly been having some drama when it comes to the behind-the-scenes planning, as reports quickly surfaced the couple was initially planning on a wedding in Italy, which meant her grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, may not attend. In addition, though it appears the couple is considering a wedding in the UK, there have been other rumors regarding her cousins and whether they may be on the guest list at all.

Not only has Beatrice reportedly been locked in a feud with Middleton since the latter’s own wedding, but she allegedly doesn’t want Prince Harry or Markle there either, after the couple announced their pregnancy at Eugenie’s wedding, and she doesn’t want them attempting to take her spotlight on her big day.

“Tension has been brewing between Harry and Meghan and the York girls for months now,” sources said. “Beatrice has confessed to friends that if she gets her way, they won’t be invited.”