What a shock, but also what joy to find out on Friday 17th July that Princess Beatrice and Edo Mapelli Mozzi had quietly wed in a private ceremony at the Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge, Windsor!
Let's summarise the key facts from the wedding, before looking at why this event had such an important emotional significance...
The dress
The bride surprised and delighted us all with a vintage Norman Hartnell dress, borrowed from HM the Queen. It was made from Peau De Soie taffeta in shades of ivory, trimmed with ivory Duchess satin, with organza sleeves. It is encrusted with diamanté and has a geometric checkered bodice. It was remodelled and fitted by HM's dresser Angela Kelly and dressmaker Stewart Parvin.
The Queen had previously worn the gown to the premiere of Lawrence of Arabia at the Odeon, Leicester Square, London, in 1962, and for a State Opening of Parliament in the same period.
The tiara
Beatrice wore the Queen Mary diamond fringe tiara, on loan from Her Majesty. The tiara was worn by The Queen on her wedding day. The tiara was originally made for Queen Mary by Garrard and Co. in 1919, from a diamond necklace given by Queen Victoria for her wedding.
The service
In line with health guidelines, the wedding was socially distanced, with a limited number of guests (around 20) and no hymns.
It was officiated by The Reverend Canon Paul Wright, Sub-Dean of the Chapel Royal and The Reverend Canon Martin Poll, Domestic Chaplain to HM the Queen.
Two beautiful, romantic poems were read at the ceremony by the couple's mothers Sarah, Duchess of York and Mrs. Nikki Shale - Shakespeare's Sonnet 116 & 'I carry you in my heart' by E.E. Cummings.
The ring
Beatrice's wedding ring, like her engagement ring, was designed by Shaun Leane, based on Edo's own ideas.
It curves around the top of the Victorian and Art Deco-inspired platinum and diamond engagement ring, features over 0.5 karats of the “purest and highest quality diamonds.” "We designed the ring in platinum because we wanted it to aesthetically match and entwine with the engagement ring,” said Shaun. “The rings have been made for each other and there’s a romance in that.”
My thoughts on the wedding
So what made this wedding so special, in spite of being so low-key and private? For me there are two elements - the triumph of love that it represents, and the sense in which it represented continuity and paying tribute to a unique and legendary monarch...
The triumph of love through adversity
Across the world we have lived the spring of 2020 with an unprecedented sense of anxiety. We have been confined at home, separated from friends and family. Many of us lost loved ones or feared for their lives. Our lives were put on hold, plans and dreams cancelled. Like so many couples across the world, Beatrice and Edo's wedding simply couldn't happen - the day they had dreamed of came and went, and nothing happened. They remained on lockdown with Edo's mother and stepfather in the Cotswolds. We speculated how long they would wait and what their plans might be.
But what struck us that happy Friday when we heard they had wed was... They didn't want to wait. They didn't care about posing for the crowd and taking the traditional carriage ride, or any of the pomp and circumstance of the typical Royal Wedding. They just wanted to be together. And after all the heartache of a horrible year, finally here was good news. Here was a moment to put joy in our hearts, and remind us that life and love will go on. Here was a beautiful Princess marrying her handsome man. After all the misery, this was a moment of joy.
Continuity and honouring the Queen
At the age of 94 and with 67 years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II is the longest reigning British monarch, loved across the UK, the Commonwealth and the world. At the height of the Coronavirus crisis, she had inspired us with a speech full of strength and wisdom, celebrating our unity and the sacrifices of frontline workers, and quoting the words of Dame Vera Lynne's wartime song, "we'll meet again". In our darkest moment, it really felt that we needed her leadership more than ever.
So now on this happy Friday, what a joy to see Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh leave their quarantine at Windsor Castle for the very first time, and for such a happy moment - to see their beloved granddaughter married. And I can only imagine how proud and how deeply touched the Queen must have been by Beatrice's decision to adapt her grandmother's vintage gown to the most stunning and elegant wedding dress, and to wear the same tiara that the Queen herself had worn on her own wedding day. It seems clear that Beatrice has a very special relationship with her grandmother and wanted to honour her on this happy day. And for a lady often described as "the nation's grandmother", it was a gesture that felt special to every one of us who honours and respects our monarchy.
It's a wonderful thing to consider Princess Beatrice Elizabeth Mary getting married in a tiara that belonged to Queen Mary and a dress that belonged to Queen Elizabeth. This sense of continuity within the institution is perhaps one of the things we value the most as monarchists. It's a continuity we see even in the beautiful face of Beatrice, who seems the very image of her ancestor Queen Victoria. So it seems appropriate for this Princess, more than any other, to pay tribute to her family's unique history!
This wedding certainly felt different to most Royal weddings, but it was nonetheless a very special and memorable one, especially considering the circumstances around it. Above all we are left with a sense of joy - we salute Beatrice and Edo, we celebrate their love, and wish them a lifetime of happiness together!
