‘It was so much fun’: Princess Beatrice talks about secret wedding for the first time

Royal married Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in July 2020

Princess Beatrice has spoken about her secret wedding for the first time since she married property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

During a video call for the Forget Me Not Children's Hospice, the royal revealed the winners of the charity's Kids Summer Art Competition, including one aspiring artist who drew a picture of the mascot “Russell bear” attending a wedding.

“Russell Bear at a wedding. I mean Chloe, do you think this might be my wedding?” Beatrice said.

“Because I had the chance to get married this summer, and it was so much fun. But I am not sure I looked as smart as Russell Bear does in his outfit.

“So thank you so much Chloe for your incredible entry.“

The couple’s secret ceremony took place at the Royal Chapel of All Saints in Windsor on 17 July in an intimate setting with The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in attendance.

Beatrice and Edoardo had originally planned on tying the knot in May but were forced to postpone the ceremony in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

The princess wore a vintage dress, which was loaned to her by the queen, for the nuptials.

The gown, which was designed by British couturier Norman Hartnell, was made from Peau De Soie taffeta and featured a square neckline with organza puff sleeves and a diamanté bodice.

Her Majesty wore the gown for a State dinner in Rome in 1961 and again in 1962 to the London premiere of the film Lawrence of Arabia. She sported the dress for a third time in 1966 for the State Opening of Parliament.

On Wednesday, Beatrice was reunited with the gown when she visited Windsor Castle ahead of it going on public display.

The exhibition, which opened to visitors on Thursday, also features Beatrice's wedding shoes and a replica of her bridal bouquet.

Caroline de Guitaut, curator of the exhibition who hosted the visit, said: “It was a really lovely moment for her to be reunited with her dress and to be able to see it as part of the display in the state dining room.

“She seemed really, really happy and we talked about the history of the dress and its wearing by the Queen and the alternations that were made to turn it into a wedding dress.”