Say what?! Did you know Princess Beatrice’s husband has ties to the Maltese Islands?
In mid-July 2020, Queen Elizbeth’s granddaughter Princess Beatrice of York married her love Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in a private ceremony after their grand royal wedding celebrations were cancelled due to COVID-19. There was little information about her property tycoon husband, who is a Count, but it seems he’s got some Maltese blood in him. Who would’ve thought!
It just so happens that his direct line actually spans centuries; all the way back to Federigo II (III) d’Aragona, the King of Sicily in 1295 until his death in 1337. The Malta Genealogy website shares his entire line which has some interesting Maltese relations.
From the start, Maltese blood is clearly detected through Don Orlando D’Aragona, Barone di Avolea, Ghajn Rihani, Delimara (King Federigo’s son). Don Orlando’s son-in-law Michele Bava was then created Barone di Djar il-Bniet c. 1320 by the King of Sicily.
Down the line we see familiar names such as Gatto (from which comes the surname Gatt), Falsone (Falson which later became Falzon), as well as Zerafa. Edoardo comes from quite the line of nobility, including barons, an Archdeacon of Mdina and Vicar General, doctors and counts.
The Conte Mapelli Mozzi name was created in 1935 when the Kingdom of Italy appointed Luigi Mapelli Mozzi (Edoardo’s great-grandfather) to the post. The Conte Mapelli Mozzi name was automatically passed on to Gian Paolo (Edoardo’s grandfather), followed by Alessandro (Edoardo’s father), and later Edoardo himself.
With this lineage, the princess’ husband is now another famous person added to the list of those with ties to Malta.
Check out Edoardo’s entire direct genealogy line here.