Princess Beatrice is engaged to multi-millionaire tycoon Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi

PRINCESS Beatrice is engaged to multi-millionaire property tycoon Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi after a whirlwind 11-month romance.

The 31-year-old gushed she “can’t wait” to get married after her 36-year-old boyfriend popped the question in Italy earlier this month.

The loved up couple, who will tie the knot in 2020, beamed with happiness in photos to announce their engagement today.

The pics, taken by Beatrice’s sister Eugenie, show the future bride in a floral dress and flaunting her solitaire ring with baguette diamonds on the band, designed by Edoardo himself with British jeweller Shaun Leane.

Beatrice and Edoardo got together at Eugenie’s wedding in October last year, with their families having being friends for decades. She started introducing him to friends as her boyfriend in November.

At the time he was living with his ex-fiancée Dara Huang, who is the mother of his three-year-old child Christopher ‘Woolfie’ Woolf.

Their relationship comes after Beatrice split with her partner of ten years, Uber exec David Clark, in 2016. The 33-year-old has since married Lynn Anderson in a lavish beach wedding in Italy, with guests including Ashton Kutcher.

Beatrice – the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh’s granddaughter – is ninth-in-line to the throne, and a cousin of the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex.

Parents Prince Andrew and Fergie today congratulated the couple, which comes after the Duke of York had been embroiled in scandal after his friendship with paedo Jeffrey Epstein.

Gushing over his future wife, Edo wrote on Instagram: “You will never be alone my love, my heart is your home. Hand in hand, today, tomorrow and forever.”

And sharing the news on Twitter, Beatrice said: “I’m so excited to announce my engagement to Edo”.

In a statement released by Buckingham Palace, the princess and her fiancé said: “We are extremely happy to be able to share the news of our recent engagement.

“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.”

But the couple wouldn’t have had to ask the Queen for permission, in contrast with her cousins Prince Harry and William.

The announcement came in the middle of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Africa tour.

Their wedding will be the fourth royal one in recent years, following the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s and then Eugenie’s in 2018, and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent’s daughter Lady Gabriella Windsor’s to Tom Kingston in 2019.

Speaking today, Prince Andrew and Sarah said: “We are thrilled that Beatrice and Edoardo have got engaged, having watching their relationship develop with pride.

“We are the lucky parents of a wonderful daughter who has found her love and companion in a completely devoted friend and loyal young man.

“We send them every good wish for a wonderful family future.”

Eugenie, who tied the knot to Jack Brooksbank last year, gushed on Instagram: “Beabea – wow! I’m so happy for you my dearest big sissy and dear Edo. It’s been a long time coming and you two are meant to be.”

Mum Fergie added on Twitter: “Eugenie took the colour photographs as my girls are so close.

“I know what a mother feels so I have tears of joy. I am so proud of this sensational news. Andrew and I are just the luckiest people ever to have two great sons in law.”

We are both so excited to be embarking on this life adventure together and can’t wait to be married.

Beatrice and Edoardo

Prince Andrew has faced a storm of controversy in recent weeks over his links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Virginia Giuffre, who alleges she was a victim of Epstein, has said she was forced into sexual encounters with the duke. Buckingham Palace and Andrew have strongly denied the accusations.

Beatrice’ future husband Edoardo, known as Edo, is the son of ex-Olympic skier Count Alessandro Mapelli Mozzi and Nikki Shale.

His stepdad was Chris Shale, a senior Tory and close friend of David Cameron, who died from heart disease at Glastonbury Festival in 2011.

Edoardo had been engaged to Chinese-American architect fiancee Dara for three-and-a-half years.

He remained living with her and his son at their London home while he was romancing Beatrice last autumn.

At the time, reports claimed he and Dara, 38, had split six months before he began dating the princess. But pals dismissed it as rubbish. One friend said: “The timing pretty much says it all.”

Dara’s mum Lily was shocked by the separation – and said her daughter was blindsided by the relationship breakdown.

His parents Nikki and Alessandro today said they were “truly delighted” about Edoardo and Beatrice’s engagement.

They said: “Our family has known Beatrice for most of her life.

“Edo and Beatrice are made for each other, and their happiness and love for each other is there for all to see. They share an incredibly strong and united bond, their marriage will only strengthen what is already a wonderful relationship.”