If you found yourself in an emergency fashion situation, do you have TEN royal-appropriate outfits of various “dressiness” in your closet? I do not. I barely have three outfits in my closet which would be appropriate for “a royal church visit” or “tea with the Queen” and I definitely don’t have anything for dinner with the Queen. But Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi found himself in a similar situation, and he apparently had enough ensembles in his closet for a two-day visit with the Queen over Christmas. Why didn’t he have time to shop for new clothes though? Because the Queen only allowed him to come to Sandringham at the last minute, because she changed her weird “no fiances, only spouses” rule. From the Daily Mail’s Talk of the Town column:
Princess Beatrice’s fiance Edo Mapelli Mozzi had just hours to prepare for his first Royal Christmas at Sandringham, I can reveal. It seems the Queen decided to break her rule – that only married couples and members of the Royal Family can attend the three-day festivities – at the very last minute. Her change of heart meant Edo faced a frantic time trying to prepare his wardrobe – no mean feat given that there are up to five outfit changes a day at the Norfolk estate.
Sandringham may be known as the least grand Royal palace but Christmas there is still carried out with military precision. Guests arrived on Christmas Eve in reverse order to their seniority within the family. As such, Bea and Edo, and Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank, would have been among the first people to arrive.
After a light tea, the Royals exchanged gifts at 6pm sharp. And in the evening, they sat down to a black-tie dinner. Christmas Day started with a service at St Mary Magdalene Church, before the party returned for drinks and then lunch. Edo would not even have had the chance to slip on an old jumper on Boxing Day because he would have needed his best tweed for the traditional shoot.
A source said: ‘Put it this way, if Edo were a woman there simply wouldn’t have been time to get a selection of different dresses, hats and coats together. He’s lucky it’s slightly easier to pack a variety of suits than it is to find as many as ten dresses. Still not that many men have more than ten different clean shirts hanging in the wardrobe, let alone that many different suits and a black- tie to hand at short notice.’
Guests are not expected to repeat an outfit during the break and some have been known to purchase new sets of underwear because suitcases are unpacked by maids – so no tatty socks or boxer shorts for Edo.
The only person to have previously attended Sandringham before marrying into The Firm was Meghan Markle, who accompanied Prince Harry in 2017. Even Kate Middleton wasn’t allowed to attend with Prince William before they married. When she did go for the first time, she reportedly buckled under the pressure over what to pack.
It is thought that property developer Edo got the call at the last minute because the Queen wanted to lend her support to her granddaughter Bea, who has faced significant strain in recent weeks. There has been constant wrangling over her wedding arrangements, including the date and venue. Sources say her patience has been tested to its limits and it’s only thanks to her fiance that she has been able to plough on. Luckily for Edo, he was able to accept the Queen’s invitation as his ex-fiancee, Dara Huang, took their three-year-old son Wolfie to Florida to spend time with her family.
So… Dara and Wolfie were already going to Florida, and Edo only found out last minute about being allowed to come to Sandringham, so… what were his original Christmas plans? Fly to Italy to be with his parents and not see his son at all? I have no idea. But yeah, I’m not surprised that Edo had enough suits and clean shirts for the visit. He seems like he’s somewhat comfortable in this royal world. Also, regarding Kate not being allowed to come to Sandringham when she and William were just engaged… I always thought that the Queen probably would have allowed it if William asked or pressed the issue, but that Kate actually wanted to spend one last Christmas with the Middletons at their family home.
Photos courtesy of Getty.
But it wasn’t one last Christmas with the midds. She’s spent 2 christmases with them at their house and they’ve joined her at anmer multiple times. That info about buckling under pressure is interesting. Who know the future queen had anything but a graceful and easy go of it cause she’s such a natural 🙄.
The men have it so much easier than the women, a couple is suits and you’re fine, no way a woman could accept an invite last minute
Of course The Mozz was ready to go for a Sandringham BRF! He rolls in those circles, so he has the threads. And was probably prepped and ready to go for the ultimate oligarch networking event. I still think he is waiting to see how the pedo Andy scandal plays out before deciding whether or not to bail.
The Mozz probably has an oligarch meeting “go bag” filled with exquisite suits so he is ready to rumble at a moment’s notice.
This is hilarious
I thought his presence was surprising/unexpected. I wonder if it was a last minute invite after it was decided Andrew wouldn’t “walk.”
My understanding too.
Originally he was supposed to be with HIS parents. We were told he was NOT invited. Personally, I think his invite put MORE attention on Pedo and the family.
(Man that is a bad pic of Bea in that tan coat. I think the only pic I’ve ever seen of her looking actually pretty was in that copper outfit. Can you imagine the eyes their kids will have?. Scary! Hope the Windsor teeth are muted as well).
It was reported in the Daily Mail a few days before Christmas that he was going.
Edo doesn’t have parents in Italy. His Italian father is there, but his mother has remarried (third time) to a British sculptor and lives in the UK.
I really wish someone would do some digging as he is not a multimillionaire property developer. He doesn’t even own his own house.
Tell us what you know about him. I am curious. I wish these two well, but I am curious.
Edo is on the make – lol
‘The curious case of the fake Count…’
That last word will take on a new connotation when he’s made by the British media who right now can’t investigate what’s right in front of them idiots ….
I like how the fact he used to be on some kind of cricket charity in Rwanda is always cited to show his philanthropic side.
Remember Paolo Liuzzo? He was one of Bea’s first boyfriends for awhile, then it was suddenly revealed that he had been convicted of manslaughter for beating a guy to death. Whoops. Nice vetting by the Yorks
“She’s just an actress. She isn’t a multi millionaire. She didn’t even own her own home. Her ex is wealthier than her. She kept showing the water thing in Rwanda to show off her “philanthropic” side. She’s on the make. She’s the fake duchess!” You see where I’m going with this??? You lot are hilariously naive it’s too damn funny. FYI property developers make a crap load of money, most developers are millionaires.I guess you live out in the boonies somewhere coz city property developers make a lot of money.
He seems shady as hell.
Exactly. He is just a ‘property developer ‘, his mother is the one with some money.
That type of Christmas sounds excruciating. Reminds me of the movie Gosford Park with all the costume changes and drinks and maids. And the kids are kept strictly separate from the adults, eating with the nannies. More like something to be endured than actually a fun, relaxing holiday. I bet when Charles is king he changes things, makes them less formal.
It sounds really awful. What is Christmas without lounging around in sweats, eating what you want when you want it, watching It’s a Wonderful Life etc on tv? I can understand why W&K and M&H or any of the young royals would want to bail. I wonder if Charles will relax that in his era. All I’ve read is that it’s a carry-over of the Family’s overly regimented German roots.
We were nowhere near that formal, but the expectation was that you wore a cocktail dress for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was more of a casual elegant style with a lot of tartan making an appearance. Complete pain in the ass and total throw back driven by my otherwise amazing grandmother. I hosted this year and gave everyone-dogs included-a pair of pajamas for their Christmas Eve gift to be worn on Christmas Day. There was grumbling until everyone figured out how comfortable it is to cook and eat in pajamas. 😂😂😂 Family tradition started!
Both at my Mum’s and my Dad’s you have church in the morning, for which you are expected to wear your most fabulous outfit. My parents always start irritably brushing me because there are cat hairs on my coat which embarrasses them in church. Then a quite formal lunch at which the kids are expected to be quiet and have good manners, with threats of no presents if they don’t behave. Then watch the Queens speech (but no other tv allowed). Then kids can open their presents. I’ve never worn pyjamas or sweats on Xmas Day. I collapse into bed on Boxing Day to recover. I thought this was normal!
Scarlett, it is normal. I guess it’s the Americans on here who spend the days in pyjamas? For us, it’s elegant, dressy wear for Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day. These are happy times to celebrate and get dressed up. My mother would be horrified if anyone turned up in their sweats 😂 But I think the not dressing up part has more to do with people not being religious, so to them, it’s just another few days off. That doesn’t happen where I’m from.
Diana, who was an aristocrat herself, hated the fact that at Sandringham she had to change clothes four times in a single day.
Changing five times a day!? Good grief. I am basically still in my pajamas from Xmas Eve lol!
@Sarah ~ and here I thought I was the only one! Thank you!
As I recall William was working in Anglesey the Christmas they got engaged and per the stories at the time, Kate wanted to be with her family before having to spend her Christmases with the royals.
Sounds like a nightmare. I would outright refuse to attend if I had children. No way my kids would be stuck in the attic with a nanny on Christmas.
I agree I can see why Diana was said to hate these family gatherings. Christmas gatherings are tense enough as it is without having this strict formality.
I’m glad he was there for Bea. If not, they might have stuck her with Andy for Christmas service and she doesn’t need that nightmare.
Oh Kate is thirsty for the spotlight. I have no doubt she would have gladly gone to Sandringham had William insisted. I also get the impression the family was not impressed by her in the early days.
That wouldn’t explain the years she’s skipped this event in the past few years and spent Christmas with her family.
Meh – back in the “early days” Kate was spotted at the Balmiral estate plenty of times. If they had a problem with her, she wouldn’t have been invited to those places in the early to mid 2000s.
Christmas with the royal family sounds like a prison sentence, something to be endured rather than a joyful family event. Despite the wealth and fame I have not one ounce of envy for any of these people.
This does not sound like a fun Christmas holiday. At all. What’s the schedule like for the kids? Sounds exhausting!!
The write up has a vague Downton Abbey feel – pity his poor valet doing this last minute packing. And it underscores how the Mozz is “one of us” (I mean, “one of them”, really) – i.e. he has enough clean shirts, can afford new socks and had prudently kept his calendar open for the occasion.
It’s a slight enbiggening campaign to sideline Andrew in the public’s mind before the wedding.
ETA: can someone ID her brown coat? I’m loving it
The fold London. Apologies in advance for all your money now going to them 😉
FYI, it’s british designer sizing, so a size U.K. 10 is a US 6, similar to a Jcrew 2/4. They don’t go up to plus sizes sadly.
Thank you so much! 🙂
On to more serious issue: Hate her hat. (Looks like she was digging around in the Queens old clothes for that one.). Hate her boots. Knee boots would have been better with that coat. Also, did anyone notice that Eugenie looked like she was going to a funeral. I think she was in black from head to toe.
I have a similar camel’s hair coat without buttons, it never occurred to me to belt it. I’m flabbergasted that I’m getting inspiration from Beatrice.
The coat has interior button closures, and is simply gorgeous in person. I always stop into the Fold shop in Knightsbridge when I’m in town. Simply gorgeous things, I don’t think she could dress herself badly there if she tried.
I thought this was York PR until I got to the part where they explained showing up in order of seniority and they said Bea and Eugenie usually show up first. Lol.
It’s weird they stick so hard to their German traditions being that they are the British Royal fam?
They show up in reverse seniority so Bea and Eugenia, being lowest in seniority, arrive first and last to arrive is Charles with the Queen already being in residence.
So relieved that I need never fear receiving an invite to that place.
I have no dresses whatsoever!
I wear Lands End slouch jogging pants every day with my Haunted Mansion t-shirts because I am usually doing something that gets me dirty somehow.
And if ever did get an (impossible) invite, I would end up hiding from everyone and wandering off on my own constantly.
A kindred spirit! *big grin*
It will be fascinating to see how it all changes once Charles is the monarch. Will Anne’s family start doing their own thing? (There was a DM article speculating that Zara and her family might make a move to Australia down the road.) Will Camilla have her own family around her or will she continue to leave Sandringham to see them right after Christmas? Charles definitely leans to the formal but he might not keep such rigid traditions.
That Christmas celebration sounds like no fun at all. And all those clothing changes? Yuck! However, I’m guessing that since none of them have to cook or clean and they probably have some type of wardrobe assistant to lay everything out, I guess they are able to manage, lol!
The tabloids are still selling him as a millionaire when he doesnt even own his apartment which he lived in with his baby mama(She’s much wealthier with a millionaire parents). Hes like most aristocrats with only a title living off their connections.
I felt pity for Beatrice as its beyond obvious its business decision rather than love but I see she’s in it for the same reasons+needs him more after Andy’s scandal.
Its a mutual arrangement, he gets the cache of an heir born into la familia Royale and she gets a semi handsome man to legitimize her thus saving her from spinsterhood.
Personally I think she can do far better if only she’d take her blinkers off. She could even use the impending storm against her father to make a break for it and live a happy and fulfilled life. Problem is she has never worked a day in her life so much like Kate hasn’t a clue.
I like Bea’s outfit here. That’s rare.