BEA'S BIG DAY TAKES SHAPE – NO THANKS TO DAD

The princess’ wedding plans have been in disarray as disgraced Prince Andrew deals with the fallout from his friendship with a paedophile.

- NICI DE WET

ASK anyone who’s ever got married or planned a wedding and they’ll tell you one thing: it can be a pretty stressful time. Who to invite, what to eat, what to wear, the music, the flowers, the seating arrangements – it’s enough to make any bride or organiser want to take to their bed in a swoon sometimes.

But pity poor Princess Beatrice of York. She has so much more on her plate than worrying about whether the cake should be chocolate or vanilla, who to put next to Great-aunt So-and-so at the reception, or whether Mummy will dip a little too deeply into the wedding punch and get someone’s back up.

Her wedding has been shrouded in controversy – and it’s no fault of her own. Everything from the venue to the reception to the TV coverage has been picked apart and subjected to scrutiny.

And it’s all because of her dad, Prince Andrew, whose involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal is tainting the biggest day of his eldest daughter’s life.

THEY WANTED SOMETHING LOW-KEY

After announcing their engagement last year, the 31-year-old princess and her handsome Italian property tycoon fiancé, Edoardo “Edo” Mapelli Mozzi (37), were at pains to make it known they wanted a simple, unfussy affair.

But thanks to Andrew, their big day has been thrust into the spotlight – with the princess painted once again as the poor little rich girl who can’t catch a break.