Following months of speculation about the relationship between Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, it turns out the rumours were true: the couple officially announced their engagement on Thursday.The engagement rumours began in November, mere months after the couple were first photographed together, though they have known each other for years. Beatrice, 30, and Edoardo, 35, then made their relationship red carpet official this past March when they attended the National Portrait Gallery's gala event, only inciting more wedding gossip. The rumours swirled yet again in August when
Majesty magazine editor Ingrid Seward told
Hello! she was told by a member of the British Royal Family that the couple were set to be married. Hmm, clearly there are people behind palace walls who like to share classified intel with the press because what once was flimsy and speculative is now concrete as the Queen's granddaughter and the property developer revealed their joyful news.Buckingham Palace
released a statement announcing the couple got engaged in Italy earlier this month and the wedding is set for sometime in 2020. Beatrice's sister, Princess Eugenie, get the photo credit for the adorable pic of the newly engaged duo. "We are extremely happy to be able to share the news of our recent engagement," said the couple in a statement. "We are both so excited to be embarking on this life adventure together and can’t wait to be married. We share so many similar interests and values and we know this will stand us in great stead for the years ahead, full of love and happiness." And, naturally, both sets of parents could not be happier, revealing
in their own words just how delighted they are.Can we talk about that ring, though? A closeup of the sparkler was also taken by Eugenie, which Edo helped think up, along with British jewellery designer Shaun Leane.
Mapelli Mozzi is the stepson of Christopher Shale, who was an old friend of Beatrice's parents, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, before he died in 2011 at the Glastonbury music festival. Edo is also the father of one, a two-year-son from a previous relationship.Fergie went further with the posts and couldn't be a prouder mum as she gushed about the "sensational news," adding that she and Andrew "are the luckiest people ever to have two great sons in law." Sarah also shared some never-before-seen black-and-white shots of Beatrice and Edoardo, which were taken by Misan Harriman at Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park prior to their engagement (based on her ringless ring finger) who had this to say about the couple:"Everything clicks when they are together and that's exactly what my lens captured. It was an honour to observe and document such love."Congrats to the happy couple—and to us, as we all get to watch another royal wedding and pour over the pictures leading up to the big day, which we know Fergie will be happy to provide
