They’re set to delight the world with another royal wedding next year, after announcing their engagement just hours ago alongside a beautiful photoshoot, but who exactly is Princess Beatrice’s new fiance Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi?
Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson’s daughter confirmed she will marry her property tycoon beau in a 2020 ceremony, revealing they’re “both so excited to be embarking on this life adventure together and can’t wait to be married”. The pair took their relationship to the next level during a recent holiday in Italy, with Beatrice’s sister Eugenie happily snapping a series of photos of the pair showing off Beatrice’s ring for the official announcement.
Edoardo had some beautiful words for the moment in his own announcement on Instagram, writing: “You will never be alone my love, my heart is your home. Hand in hand, today, tomorrow and forever.” Now let’s take a look at what we know about the princess’ future husband so far:
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Nicknamed Edo, the 34-year-old millionaire property tycoon is the CEO of Banda Property in the United Kingdom. And regularly sharing images of aesthetic-looking rooms and buildings on his social media, it’s clear he’s passionate about his chosen career.
According to his official LinkedIn page, Banda “is a multi-faceted property company based in London, covering portfolio strategy, planning and development, asset management, private client homesearch, interior design and architecture”. The description adds: “By the time Edo was 30, he had developed over 400,000sq ft of property in London with a combined GDV of nearly £700million.”
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And while he’s carved his own successful career, Edo is no stranger to the limelight. His father was Alessandro ‘Alex’ Mapelli Mozzi, who famously competed for Great Britain in the 1972 Olympics in alpine skiing. His mother is Nikki Williams-Ellis, who is married to the sculptor David Williams-Ellis and was previously married to the late Christopher Shale, a senior UK Conservative and close friend of former PM David Cameron. She was appointed MBE in 2016.
“The family have known Beatrice for most of her life,” Edoardo’s parents said in a statement after the news of their engagement broke. “Edo and Beatrice are made for each other, and their happiness and love for each other is there for all to see.”
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The couple will also make history in their own right next year, as Beatrice will become the first princess in Queen Elizabeth II’s family to become a step-mother when she ties the knot – and the second royal in recent history, alongside Camilla. Edo already has a two-year-old son, Christopher Woolf nicknamed Woolfie, who he shares with his ex-fiancee Dara Huang. It seems the pair still get on however, as she has since wished the couple well. “I wish the best for Edo and Beatrice and look forward to uniting our families,” Huang told the Mail Online.
Meanwhile, Edo has also co-founded the charity Cricket Builds Hope, which was the original brainchild of his late step-father Shale before he died. It coaches people to play cricket in Rwanda “as a tool for positive social change”.
Beatrice, whose younger sister Eugenie tied the knot in October last year, is thought to have been dating Edo for 11 months, with the pair regularly seen out in public together. Proud mum Fergie shared her own statement, revealing her pride and excitement alongside a new black and white photo of the pair.
“I know what a mother feels so I have tears of joy. I am so proud of this sensational news. Andrew and I are just the luckiest people ever to have two great sons in law,” she wrote. “@princesseugenie took the colour photographs as my girls are so close. Beatrice and Edo wanted her to capture this special moment. The black and white photographs were taken by Misan Harriman at Royal Lodge, Windsor Great Park.” It is thought to be the Queen’s granddaughter’s first relationship since splitting from her long-term boyfriend of 10 years, Dave Clark, in 2016.
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