Photographer behind Beatrice's wedding snaps says the event was 'a milestone' of his career

The photographer behind Princess Beatrice and husband Edoardo's official wedding snaps has opened up about capturing their special day.

Benjamin Wheeler, from London, was behind the lens as Beatrice, 31, and Italian property developer Edoardo Mappeli Mozzi said 'I do' during a surprise ceremony at the Royal Chapel of All Saints at the Royal lodge on July 18.

Taking to his Instagram account, Wheeler penned: 'I was so incredibly honoured to photograph their wedding day, a certain milestone of my career.

Buckingham Palace has so far released two pictures from the happy occasion - both taken by Wheeler.

One shows the happy couple locking hands as they exit the Chapel. In the other, beaming Beatrice and Edo stand next to her grandmother the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in front of the chapel.

Benjamin Wheeler was behind the lens as Beatrice, 31, and Edoardo Mappeli Mozzi said 'I do' at the Royal Chapel of All Staints at the Royal lodge on July 18

The photographer said photographing the event was a 'milestone' of his career and had left him 'incredibly honoured'

In his Instagram post, Wheeler went on to thank Gillian Lawtie. a fellow photographer and founder of the Wedding Collective - a wedding directory providing contact details for wedding caterers, photographers, filmmakers and more.

Benjamin was one of the few people to attend the intimate ceremony on Friday, which saw Beatrice wed after postponing her grand May wedding to beau Edoardo.

Beatrice and Edo were due to tie the knot at the Chapel Royal of St James's Palace, in London, on 29 May. But their ceremony was postponed due to Covid-19 and no new date was given by the palace at the time.

Instead the couple chose to have an intimate ceremony attended by just 'close family', according to a statement released on Friday afternoon by Buckingham Palace.

In the sweet snaps, Beatrice and Edo beam, standing at a safe distance from her grandparents The Queen and Duke of Edinburg

The bride's parents, Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York as well as her sister Princess Eugenie, 30, are thought to have been included.

On marriage Beatrice becomes a stepmother to Edo's son Christopher, known as Wolfie, who is also thought to have attended.

The Queen, who has now watched six of her eight grandchildren wed, shared her joy in a conversation with Captain Sir Tom Moore, whom she knighted at Windsor Castle just hours after the nuptials. She told Sir Tom and his family: 'My granddaughter got married this morning both Philip and I managed to get there - very nice.'

The chapel, which can accommodate 180 people, was an ideal choice for social distancing, especially given the bride's grandparents are both in their 90s and in a high risk group.

Weddings of up to 30 people are allowed under current government guidelines. The reduced guest list means that the couple will have to celebrate with celebrity friends such as Ellie Goulding, Karlie Kloss and Cressida Bonas at a later date.

Flowers from well-wishers were seen being unloaded from vans after the wedding, as Buckingham Palace confirmed no reception or other event was taking place.

The dashing Italian property developer who won Bea's heart: Father-of-one Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 37, is a long-time family friend who swept her off her feet Princess Beatrice has married Italian property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in secret at Windsor Castle Princess Beatrice married fiance Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in a secret wedding in Windsor earlier today - but who is the man that stole the royal's heart? The happy couple were due to wed at the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace in London with 150 guests on May 29, but Covid-19 meant they had to postpone their big day. Having kept their plans quiet, they tied the knot this morning in front of just 20 guests including the Queen, 94, and Prince Philip, 99, at All Saints Chapel in Windsor Great Park. Beatrice, 31, and Edo, 37, are long-time family friends, but started dating in October 2018 and got engaged in September last year. 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. Property developer Edoardo is the son of former Olympic skier Count Alessandro Mapelli Mozzi and Nikki Shale, and has been a friend of the Yorks for some time. The father-of-one has a son, Christopher, with his former partner Dara Huang. He's said to enjoy an amicable relationship with Huang and prides himself on still being an active part of his son's life. Edoardo was educated at the prestigious Radley school in Oxfordshire before studying for a Master's in politics at Edinburgh. He is believed to have known Beatrice for years, the royal attended the funeral of Edoardo's stepfather, Christopher Shale, who died at of a heart attack at Glastonbury in 2011; Shale was a close friend of David Cameron. Father-of-one Edo has a young son, Christopher, whose nickname is Wolfie, with his former partner Dara Huang - meaning Beatrice is now a stepmother. Right, Beatrice with Edo Advertisement

A statement released by the palace said: 'The small ceremony was attended by The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh and close family. The wedding took place in accordance with all relevant Government guidelines.'

It is understood the couple waiting to release their wedding photos because they did not want to overshadow the investiture of Captain Tom Moore, who received his knighthood from the Queen at Windsor Castle on Friday afternoon.

Edo and Beatrice are understood to have planned the day with the safety of the Queen in mind. The Queen and Prince Philip have been in isolation at Windsor Castle since the start of lockdown.

A friend told the Sun they chose All Saints Chapel because it is just a short three-mile drive from the castle, making it easy for the Queen to attend. They also chose a date before the Queen makes her annual trip up to Balmoral at the end of the month.

The friend added: 'So many guests were disappointed not to make the big day but understood the reason for it.

Edo is the son of Nikki Shale and Italian former Olympic skier Count Alessandro Mapelli Mozzi. Nikki split with Mapelli Mozzi when Edo was young, while her second husband Christopher Shale, a senior Tory and a close friend of former prime minister David Cameron, died of a heart attack at Glastonbury Festival in 2011.