Last week it was all but confirmed that Princess Beatrice will likely wed her boyfriend Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in the early months of next year.
Royal commenter Ingrid Seward reveals, “They’re going to get married – I was told by a member of the family”, adding it could take place “as early as next [UK] spring”.
WATCH: Princess Beatrice refuses to curtsy to the Queen
But the bride and groom-to-be’s happy news is being overshadowed by the ongoing and increasingly shocking Jeffrey Epstein case and questions about Prince Andrew’s friendship with the deceased billionaire.
New Idea has learnt that now, with pressure intensifying, Beatrice is facing the possibility that she may walk down the aisle without her father by her side.
“Bea is seriously considering not inviting her father to the wedding because of all the Epstein drama,” a source close to the royal tells us. “It’s all such a messy and disgraceful affair and Bea hates that her father is tied up in it all and she doesn’t want that drama ruining her wedding.”
Considering how the York family is so famously close and supportive of each other, any decision to sideline her father on her big day is sure to be due to public perceptions.
Now royal correspondent Phil Dampier confirms to New Idea that Beatrice and her sister Eugenie, are “devastated” by the alleged revelations concerning their father and are questioning how he could have been involved with a man like Epstein.
But despite what they might do publicly, in private the sisters will remain loyal, he explains.
“There is no way they believe Andrew could have done anything wrong, even if as adults they must realise he has made some mistakes by being associated with a convicted sex offender,” adds Phil.
Indeed, over the years, the sisters have always publicly supported him, until now.
“Both Bea and Eugenie are getting involved in charities involving children in their own right, so this is terrible for them,” points out Phil.
Eugenie recently announced plans to launch a podcast for her anti-trafficking charity, The Anti-Slavery Collective.
While no allegations have been levelled against Andrew and he has denied any impropriety, pressures on the prince have been intensifying. Last week, the lawyer for an Epstein accuser urged him to speak up about anything he might know.
Phil agrees: “Andrew needs to find a way to lance the boil, possibly by apologising publicly.”
In 2011, when Andrew’s association with Epstein first became front-page news, he was forced to keep a lower public profile. It was Princess Eugenie’s wedding last year that saw him take steps to rebuild his image.
Now, whether or not Andrew is dragged into legal proceedings or investigations, it’s likely he’ll be forced to take a step away from public life, including Beatrice’s wedding.
Being at the event would almost certainly mean her big day would be overshadowed. Yet, for Beatrice and Eugenie, the current position they find themselves in is all too familiar.
“The two princesses have seen negative publicity about their parents all their lives so this is nothing new for them,” Phil says.
To read more pick up this week’s issue of New Idea, on sale now.
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