Princess Beatrice has put her royal wedding plans with fiancé Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi for May 29 on hold, over the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The couple were due to marry at St James’s Palace in London, before Beatrice’s grandmother, the Queen, hosted a private reception in Buckingham Palace’s gardens.

Royal officials revealed today that this reception has been cancelled – and the couple could now host a private marriage with a ‘small group of family and friends’. An estimated 150 guests were due to attend the ceremony, which was set to be one of the biggest social events of 2020.

Buckingham Palace said the couple were aware of the need to avoid taking any unnecessary risks and had reviewed their plans in light of government advice. The wedding day has now been changed after the Government advised Britons to avoid social gatherings to prevent the spread of coronavirus. 

“Princess Beatrice and Mr Mapelli Mozzi are very much looking forward to getting married but are equally aware of the need to avoid undertaking any unnecessary risks in the current circumstances. In line with government advice for the UK and beyond, the couple are reviewing their arrangements for May 29. They are particularly conscious of government advice in relation to both the wellbeing of older family members and large gatherings of people. Therefore, the planned reception in the Buckingham Palace Gardens will not take place. The couple will carefully consider government advice before deciding whether a private marriage might take place amongst a small group of family and friends.”

Buckingham Palace spokesman

The Queen’s garden parties at Buckingham Palace have also been called off and the Palace of Holyroodhouse garden party in Edinburgh in July is now under review.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called on all people in the UK, particularly the over 70s, to avoid all non-essential contact and travel to control the spread of the virus.

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