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In a move that might be considered a true sign of the times, Princess Beatrice and her fiancé, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, surprised the world after news of a secret wedding ceremony between the two came to light on July 17, 2020, in lieu of the traditional royal family fare. As of this writing, public reaction has seemingly been positive. In fact, Brides.com went as far as to deem it «the ultimate quarantine wedding.» However, what’s piqued our interest is the fact that certain notable names haven’t been mentioned as having been in attendance — whether virtually or in-person.
«The private wedding ceremony of Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi took place at 11am on Friday 17th July at The Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge, Windsor,» the announcement read (via CNN).
While the statement omitted whether Beatrice’s father, Prince Andrew – who has been embroiled in various controversies – was in attendance, it listed other members of the royal family who were able to witness the nuptials. «The small ceremony was attended by The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh and close family,» per the statement. Spokespeople for the Windsors also made sure to emphasize that the ceremony «took place in accordance with all relevant Government Guidelines.»
Another royal pair who seem to be missing from the roster? Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. And the reason might have to do with Harry and Beatrice’s relationship.
Princess Beatrice’s wedding fuels further speculation about her relationship with Prince Harry
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At the time of this writing, there is no word on whether Prince Harry or Meghan Markle were able to witness Princess Beatrice’s marriage to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, who announced their engagement in September 2019. If neither the Duke or Duchess of Sussex were in any way a part of the ceremony, there’s a chance it might have to do with a particular incident involving another family member entirely and an unfortunate snub.
As Page Six noted back in February 2020, murmurs regarding whether Harry and Meghan would be in attendance for Beatrice’s wedding began to circulate after the former couple’s infamous «Megxit.» While the ceremony was schedule for May 2020 at the time — this was before the coronavirus pandemic, after all — some insiders contested that though The Sussexes had «penciled in the May 29 date,» they could have feasibly decided last minute to blow off the event.
«The trouble with Harry and Meghan is that they think they are bigger than the institution,» one anonymous source disclosed to Page Six at the time. «It’s such a shame things have turned out like this.»
At that point, tensions were already in place pre-«Megxit» due to another incident that took place during Harry and Meghan’s own 2018 royal wedding — a glaring omission on their reception guest list who also happened to be Beatrice’s mother.
One past snub might have strained Princess Beatrice and Prince Harry’s relationship
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As per Page Six, speculation over tensions between Prince Harry and Princess Beatrice stretch as far back as 2018. While she was invited to the actual wedding, Harry and Meghan Markle declined to invite Beatrice’s mother, Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, to their wedding reception. The reason? Well, it’s not entirely clear. However, the decision might not have even been in either Harry or Meghan’s hands to begin with.
In a 2019 interview on Good Morning Britain, Ferguson opened up about Harry and Meghan’s nuptials, wishing good tidings toward the couple and expressing grief over the absence of Harry’s mother, the late Princess Diana. Though the Duchess of York was present at the ceremony, her name was absent from the reception guest list. That being said, it seems like the reason why might have had very little to do with the newlyweds and everything to do with Queen Elizabeth II.
«I think that Her Majesty is an incredible lady. And just … what an icon to the country, and one of the finest people in the world I’ve ever met. And I think that her Majesty leads by such example. So inclusive. To include me is a wonderful gesture,» said Ferguson. She also expressed that she «felt honored and grateful» to be included in the ceremony itself.
So is there any basis for these rumors? Have Harry and Beatrice really had a falling out? At best, it seems to be pure speculation.