PRINCESS Beatrice is engaged to boyfriend Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi – but won’t have had to ask the Queen for permission.
This contrasts with her cousins Prince Harry and Prince William who had to ask their granny when they wanted to pop the question to Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle.
Edoardo is said to have popped the question to Prince Andrew’s daughter while they were on holiday in Italy – and she wouldn’t have needed the Queen’s approval to accept.
When Prince Harry wanted to propose to Meghan, he had to secure permission from the Queen – who of course, gave her consent.
She declared at the time: “My Lords, I declare My Consent to a Contract of Matrimony between My Most Dearly Beloved Grandson Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales and Rachel Meghan Markle, which Consent I am causing to be signified under the Great Seal and to be entered in the Books of the Privy Council.”
William had to go through the same process, with Her Maj producing written confirmation of her approval in advance.
In line with the Royal Marriages Act 1772, the Queen can choose not to approve a marriage within her family and is required to provide formal consent of any she approves of.
The law used to extend to all members of the royal family, but now a change in the law in 2013 means it only applies to the six people in line to the throne.
With the birth of Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, Harry is now sixth-in-line to the throne, meaning he was required to have permission from the monarch.
Meanwhile, Beatrice is ninth-in-line to the throne and therefore doesn’t follow the same rules.
A royal source told Fabulous Digital: “Princess Beatrice is head over heels in love and wants to marry as soon as possible and start a family.
“Fergie is hardly able to contain her motherly delight at another York wedding in Windsor.”
Beatrice has been going out with Edo, who specialises in discreetly developing multi-million pound homes for rich clients, since around the nuptials of Princess Eugenie last October.
In other royal news, we told you Kate Middleton beats Meghan Markle in YouGov royal popularity poll – while Prince Harry trumped Prince William.
We also revealed the Queen’s must-have high-street beauty products including £22 Elizabeth Arden lipstick and £8 Essie nail polish.
And we told you how Meghan Markle ‘flew to Ibiza on a private jet with Prince Harry and son Archie Harrison for a six-day birthday break’.
