In the past, Prince William has been rumored to have a less-than-favorable opinion of his cousin Princess Beatrice’s romantic interests.

Despite this, recent observations suggest that the 43-year-old Prince of Wales is on amicable terms with Beatrice’s husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. This comes despite Edoardo being photographed enjoying wine in Palm Beach while Beatrice coped with the fallout from her parents, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, and their controversial connections to convicted offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Sources have informed the Daily Mail that Prince William, who is set to be the future King, has a rather congenial relationship with the high-profile architect, despite his flashy lifestyle.

“I wouldn’t say they are the closest of friends, constantly in contact, but they do share a decent rapport,” an insider revealed.

“William has always had a fondness for his cousins. Growing up, they would often play together, and he and his brother used to jest, saying ‘Oh look, here comes Queen Bea,’ due to her then prominent place in the line of succession.”

“It appears that the affection William holds for his cousins has naturally extended to their spouses as well,” the source added.

The pair also reportedly bond over their love for sports. 

‘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 royal gatherings.’ 

Despite the reported warmth, William has rarely been spotted chatting with Edo – who married Beatrice in 2020 – even when they are at joint outings, and experts have speculated the heir ‘won’t miss the York sisters’ amid their parents’ tranche of scandals.

In contrast, the Prince of Wales has always enjoyed a friendship with his cousin Zara Tindall’s husband Mike. The pair have many times been spotted chatting at events, and William has even made a memorable appearance on the ex rugby player’s podcast.

William also appears to have a history of tensions with Beatrice’s partners, which goes way back – as the Prince reportedly ‘hated’ her ex-boyfriend of ten years, Dave Clarke; despite being the one to introduce them.

The future King is rarely seen conversing with the glitzy architect, 42, who married Sarah Ferguson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s eldest daughter in 2020. William, Kate and Edo pictured in 2023

The royal knew American businessman Dave from St Andrew’s University, and introduced him to Beatrice at a 2006 party held by Pierce Brosnan’s son Sean.

However, in 2011, it appeared all was not smooth sailing when William and Kate left Dave off the invite list for their wedding.

The reason for the souring, a source told the Daily Mail, was allegedly Dave’s ‘indiscreetness’. 

‘William has the Spencer paranoia gene,’ an insider shared.

‘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 shared: ‘William isn’t a huge fan of Dave. It’s fair to say that if Beatrice had asked the Queen for permission to marry Dave, and she in turn asked William privately for his view, she may not have been given a glowing report.’ 

Commentator Richard Fitzwilliams shared that it seems the Prince also found him ‘unreliable’.

The couple split up in 2016, and two years later, in 2018, she reportedly began dating longtime family friend Edo.

Things moved quick and by 2019, they announced that they would be getting married.

The pair said of their 11-month whirlwind romance in a statement: ‘We are extremely happy to be able to share the news of our recent engagement.’ 

Due to Covid restrictions in 2020, they enjoyed an intimate ceremony which adhered to social distancing measures, exchanging vows at the Royal Chapel of All Saints, in the grounds of Royal Lodge, Beatrice’s childhood family home in Windsor Great Park. 

Since controversy about Beatrice and Eugenie’s parents continued to erupt in recent years, experts have suggested William is likely to want to distance himself from the York sisters.

Due to Covid restrictions in 2020, they enjoyed an intimate ceremony which adhered to social distancing measures, exchanging vows at the Royal Chapel of All Saints, in the grounds of Royal Lodge, Beatrice’s childhood family home in Windsor Great Park. Pictured in 2022

William also appears to have a history of tensions with Beatrice’s partners, which goes way back – as the Prince reportedly ‘hated’ her ex-boyfriend of ten years, Dave Clarke; despite being the one to introduce them. Beatrice and Dave pictured in 2009

Elsewhere, Beatrice showed ‘awkwardness and dislike’ towards the Prince and Princess of Wales following the Christmas Day service at Sandringham, a body language expert has recently claimed.

She had accompanied members of the Royal Family for the traditional walkabout and service at St Magdalene Church.

While others, including Zara and Mike Tindall, were seen happily chatting to William and Kate, Beatrice’s display was, according to UK body language judge Judi James, on the ‘awkward’ side.

It comes after Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie were told they cannot join their family at Royal Ascot this year amid concerns about the escalating scandal involving the House of York and their ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

Sources say the sisters, whose names appear several times in the Epstein files, will not take their seats in the Royal Box at the prestigious horse-racing event in June, nor can they join senior royals for the Royal Procession.

The move is said to have ‘completely blindsided’ Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, who are already reeling from the arrest of their father last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

But perhaps signs of the York sisters’ growing distance from William and Kate were evident long before news of Ascot. 

Speaking to the Daily Mail about Beatrice’s Christmas Day appearance, Judi said: ‘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.

‘Often the wider the smile, the more negative the emotions being masked, which could be why Beatrice’s smile here, as she waits for the Waleses to go first, hints at what could be awkwardness or dislike.

‘She begins in something of a huddle with her sister, where the smiles could suggest some conversation through gritted teeth as they watch William, Kate and the children take the lead.

‘The sisters seem to decide to shuffle off together to the left, where they stand beaming their smiles at the group in front in a watchful rather than sociable way.

‘Beatrice’s glance down at the Waleses hints at some quiet impatience or discomfort at having to hang around dutifully and compliantly until they move on.

‘There is no sign of any socialising between them here or any intent of catching Kate’s eye to make the smiles more sociably friendly.’

The decision followed a claim from royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams that William and Kate ‘won’t’ miss the York sisters if the future king has to ‘take the hard line’ with his cousins.

Their relationship has long been strained, but the latest revelations from the Epstein files could cause it to deteriorate further.

The most recent tranche of Epstein documents has raised serious questions about how much the former Duke and Duchess of York’s daughters knew of their parents’ corrupt dealings with the paedophile financier.

One email sent by Epstein in 2015 – after he was convicted for soliciting sex from a girl under 18 – boasted to a friend that Beatrice ‘liked’ him.

It also emerged that Beatrice helped advise her mother on how to placate Epstein after Fergie called him a paedophile while apologising for accepting a £15,000 bailout from the convicted sex offender in a 2011 interview. She also played a key role in facilitating her father’s 2019 Newsnight interview. 

William must now evaluate his relationship with Beatrice and Eugenie, and assess whether they have a future within The Firm – a decision which will no doubt be fuelled by the pre-existing tension in his relationship with the York sisters.

‘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,’ Richard added.

‘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 was under house arrest.

‘One of the most bizarre aspects of the files is the way Sarah Ferguson seems to regard Epstein as part of her extended family. In 2010, she even told Epstein of Eugenie’s “s*******” weekend.’

‘There is obvious sympathy for the predicament of the sisters; mention in the files does not denote wrongdoing.

‘The King reportedly regards their work-life balance, where they both do some charitable work alongside their careers and families but are not working royals, as admirable.

‘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.’

Richard added: ‘Although the Waleses may not be close to the sisters, we know that Eugenie is notably close to Harry.

‘At one time it was thought that she had a role to play in helping reconciliation between the Royal Family and the Sussexes. That is now highly unlikely.’