Inside Princess Beatrice's boyfriend's shock split from ex-fiancee

Princess Beatrice’s whirlwind romance to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi has catapulted the couple into the spotlight, with royal watchers already hearing wedding bells.

But a prospective proposal wouldn’t be the first for the property millionaire, who was previously engaged to architect and designer Dara Huang, with whom he shares a two-year-old son.

In fact, 35-year-old ‘Edo’ and Dara’s recent split came as a shock to her mum in America, who was informed of their separation by her other daughter.

“I think Dara was hiding it from me,” Dara’s mum Lily told the Daily Mail, “She didn't want me to be sad. I am shocked.”

The former couple, who share son Christopher ‘Woolfie’ Woolf, were engaged for three years before their breakup, which is thought to have occurred months before Dara eventually moved out of their shared London home.

Her father Po-Tien, a retired NASA scientist, came forward at the time to reveal his heartbreak.

"It’s a sad time and sad situation,” he told The Sun in November. “We don’t know how Dara is going to take care of it. I’m upset but there’s nothing I can do about it.”

Meanwhile, Edo and Beatrice have known each other since childhood but are said to have first struck up a romance at her sister Eugenie’s wedding in October last year.

A palace insider completely quashed any suggestion that their romance overlapped with Edo and Dara’s breakup, telling the Daily Mail, “She would never allow herself to break into another couple's happiness, especially if there was a small child involved.”

Despite dating for less than a year, Beatrice and Edo’s allegiance stretches back to their respective high society childhoods.

Beatrice’s mother Fergie, is godmother to her Edo’s younger brother Alby, and was close friends with his mother and late step-father.

Since igniting their well-to-do flame, things have moved swiftly for the couple who now live together at St James’ Palace in London.

They publicly confirmed the romance at a red carpet event in March before Edo made his royal debut at Lady Gabriella Windsor’s wedding last weekend.

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