Prince William's Evolving Dynamics with Cousin Beatrice and Her Husband
Rumours have long circulated that the Prince of Wales harbours disapproval towards the romantic partners of his cousin, Princess Beatrice. However, contrary to expectations, William, 43, appears to maintain cordial relations with Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, the architect who married Beatrice in 2020. This rapport persists even as Edoardo was recently seen enjoying wine in Palm Beach while his wife navigated the fallout from her parents' connections to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
A Surprisingly Amicable Connection
Sources speaking to the Daily Mail reveal that the future King is far from alienated by the flashy architect; instead, they share a reasonably friendly relationship. "I'm not saying they are the best of buddies and always chatting to each other, but they do get on reasonably well," an insider explained. "William has always been fond of his cousins and they would all play together with he and his brother joking 'Oh look, here comes Queen Bea' when they would see each other and because she was high up the line of succession back in the day. So that affection has stretched to their husbands as well."
The pair reportedly bond over their mutual passion for sports, particularly football. "William and Edo also have a shared passion with football," the source added. "William is a big Aston Villa fan and Edo supports Arsenal and there has been a fair amount of ribbing this season. William is glad of the male company because his brother Harry is obviously off the scene and now in California and they always chat whenever they are at royal gatherings."
Historical Tensions and Current Distance
Despite this reported warmth, William has rarely been observed engaging in conversation with Edo during joint public outings. Experts speculate that the heir to the throne "won't miss the York sisters" amidst the ongoing scandals involving their parents, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson. This stands in stark contrast to William's well-documented friendship with his cousin Zara Tindall's husband, Mike Tindall, with whom he frequently converses at events and even appeared on his podcast.
William's history with Beatrice's partners has been notably strained. He reportedly "hated" her ex-boyfriend of ten years, Dave Clarke, despite being the one to introduce them at a 2006 party hosted by Sean Brosnan. The future King's disapproval allegedly stemmed from Dave's "indiscreetness," with an insider noting, "William has the Spencer paranoia gene. Dave is a gregarious, chatty American and William is so private it hurts. He would accuse his dog of being indiscreet if it barked at someone else too often." Another source added that William found him "unreliable," and if Beatrice had sought permission to marry Dave, William's private counsel to the Queen would not have been favourable.
Recent Strains and Family Scrutiny
The relationship between William and the York sisters has faced increasing pressure in recent years. Body language expert Judi James recently analysed Beatrice's "awkwardness and dislike" towards William and Kate during the Christmas Day service at Sandringham. "There is a type of smile known as a performed or applied rictus that is a wide smile that appears effortful and not prompted by authentic pleasure," James explained. "Often the wider the smile, the more negative the emotions being masked, which could be why Beatrice's smile here hints at what could be awkwardness or dislike."
Further distancing occurred when Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie were informed they could not join the royal family at Royal Ascot this year, a decision that "completely blindsided" them. This exclusion is linked to escalating scandals involving their parents' ties to Jeffrey Epstein, whose files mention the sisters multiple times. One email from Epstein in 2015 boasted that Beatrice "liked" him, and it emerged that she advised her mother on placating Epstein after Sarah Ferguson called him a paedophile in a 2011 interview.
Future Implications for the Royal Family
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams suggests that William and Kate "won't miss the York sisters" if the future king must "take the hard line" with his cousins. "It may fall to William to make a decision on the future of Beatrice and Eugenie. Neither are reportedly particularly close to him or to Catherine," Fitzwilliams noted. "The fact that Beatrice, when 20, and Eugenie, aged 19, visited Epstein in Florida just after his release from prison with their rapacious mother is alarming. They must have known who they were visiting and how inappropriate this was."
He added, "William, it is reported, may well take a hard line when he becomes king. It depends on how affected the Royal Family is by what happens subsequently. If this happens, it may be impossible for the Royal Family to move forward with any members of the York family attached to it. William and Catherine do not appear to have close ties with the sisters and would probably not miss them." Despite this, King Charles reportedly admires the sisters' work-life balance, where they engage in charitable activities alongside their careers without being working royals.
As the Royal Family grapples with these complexities, William's relationship with Beatrice and Edoardo remains a nuanced blend of familial affection, shared interests, and the unavoidable shadows cast by ongoing controversies.
