Heartbroken: Princess Beatrice in tears as Prince William set her up with former…

Princess Beatrice is said to be heartbroken by the news her former partner Paolo Liuzzo has died aged after a suspected drug overdose.

Beatrice, the daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, dated Liuzzo in 2005 when she was 17 and he was 24, but they separated just the following year in 2006.

Despite their seven year age gap and already having a criminal past, Liuzzo was said to be Beatrice’s first love and he was her first public boyfriend.

Beatrice, now 35, and her sister, Princess Eugenie try to keep their personal lives relatively private.

But a closer look into her relationship history reveals how her relationship with ‘playboy’ Liuzzo was just the start of her rollercoaster love life.

Beatrice went on to date businessman Dave Clark for ten years after being set up by Prince William – and many expected the pair to marry before their rocky split in 2016.

Now happily settled down with Edoardo Mapelli and their daughter Sienna, the love life of King Charles’s niece has entered calmer waters.

Here, FEMAIL takes a closer look at the ups and downs of heartache she endured before meeting her husband.

Paolo Liuzzo (2005-2006)
Princess Beatrice’s love life was off to a very controversial and public start in 2005 when she began dating Paolo Liuzzo.

They met through mutual friends and began dating in July 2005, managing to keep their relationship a secret for almost a year.

The American already had a criminal past after being accused of manslaughter when a drunken fight as a student at the College of the Holy Cross led to the death of a teenager in 2002.

The charge was later reduced to assault and Liuzzo served a community sentence.

At the time of his romance with Beatrice, she was 17 and he was 24. The seven year age gap attracted a lot of public attention – but despite this, the romance was supported by her parents Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.

Fergie said when the relationship began: ‘We all have our own journeys and have to learn our way but Beatrice is a sensible girl, soon to be 18, with many friends including Paolo.’

Friends of Beatrice said that Paolo was ‘Bea’s first real boyfriend’ and revealed that he had been living in London for several months, but that Beatrice planned to go to university in America so the pair could continue their romance.

‘Despite his past, Paolo is very well brought up and treats Bea with incredible respect and kindness,’ the friend said.

A palace source said Liuzzo was ‘very open about his background when he and Beatrice became close.’

Fergie and Andrew invited Liuzzo on a family vacation to the exclusive Swiss ski resort Verbier.

It subsequently emerged that Liuzzo had flouted the conditions of his probation to holiday with the Queen’s granddaughter and her family – including Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York – in Switzerland in 2006.

In May 2006 reports of the manslaughter charge surfaced, causing a sensation and forcing Beatrice to abandon the romance.

In 2007 he embarrassed the Royal Family by claiming marijuana was smoked in the presence of Beatrice, her sister Eugenie and their mother, Sarah Ferguson, while they were on holiday in Jamaica.

He was among a party of eight including the Princesses who went on a ten-day holiday to the Caribbean in 2005.

The self-described playboy also confessed to cheating on Beatrice during their relationship – and said she had wanted to introduce him to the Queen.

Beatrice was reportedly heartbroken when their romance ended and she returned to Goldsmiths, which is part of the University of London.

Further scandals ensued after the end of their relationship.
In 2009, Liuzzo was arrested in Australia and charged with cocaine possession after crashing a £40,000 Audi.

The then-27-year-old also failed to pay for accommodation and restaurant bills at Conrad Jupiters casino.

Australian law enforcement charged Liuzzo with fraud, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, possessing two grams of cocaine and driving without due care and attention. Liuzzo pleaded guilty and was fined $5,000.

News of his death emerged this week. Following his death, insiders said that Liuzzo struggled with gambling as well as drugs, and reportedly claimed he had racked up debts with loan sharks. A friend of Liuzzo told The Sun: ‘Paolo was not doing great on a personal level.

‘He began using a lot of pharmaceutical drugs at first but that later led to cocaine and harder drugs. It was a very fast lifestyle and we all feared it would catch up with him eventually.’

Liuzzo’s death certificate revealed that he had been working as a consultant in the art industry and had never married.

His body was transported to Long Island, New York, where he grew up and a funeral was held on February 16.

Dave Clark (2006-2016)
Princess Beatrice dated US-born Uber executive Dave Clark for ten years from 2006 to 2016 – and he was the man many expected her to marry.

Dave had been studying at Edinburgh University for his study abroad programme when Prince William was at nearby St Andrews and the two became friends.

William, who is Beatrice’s cousin, introduced the couple at a party held by Sean Brosnan, son of James Bond star Pierce – and so began their romance.

However the two men were said to have fallen out, after William decided Dave was too ‘indiscreet’ to invite to the Royal Wedding in 2011.

Beatrice was said to be ‘devastated’ when she split from Clark in 2016, after reportedly issuing an ultimatum over marriage.

Just two months later, he got together with glamorous New York advertising executive Lynn Anderson, and the couple announced their engagement in May 2017, going on to marry in a lavish ceremony in Italy the following year.

At the time of her split from Clark, sources indicated it had come after down to an ultimatum over marriage.

A source close to Beatrice told The Mail on Sunday at the time: ‘After ten years together, Beatrice and Dave had to wonder why they were not married.

‘They talked it through and decided to take time apart to reflect on the future. They remain friends and the decision to break up was mutual.’

Deciding it was time to address their relationship, the source said that Beatrice decided to speak with Dave about marriage but it backfired because he did not ask her to marry him.

They both agreed that with no marriage in their future, it was time to go their separate ways.

The shocking news was believed to have devastated members of the royal family including sister Princess Eugenie and parents Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew.

The Duchess of York, in particular, was said to have felt as though she had lost a son, who she had nicknamed ‘Mr Smiley’.

Speaking at the time another source added: ‘Sarah considers Dave to be part of the family. She is very sad it didn’t work out. They have been together longer than many marriages last.’

Following the breakup, rumours began to circulate that Beatrice’s cousin Prince William did not approve of the relationship and demonstrated his dislike of her partner by refusing to invite him to the Royal Wedding in 2011.

Rumoured romances: A blind date, a personal trainer and a journalist (2016-2018)

Beatrice reportedly went on a blind date just weeks after splitting from Dave Clark in 2016.

But the man hadn’t realised he would be meeting a member of the royal family and, once he realised who his date was, spent the entire time shaking and sweating with nerves.

Nevertheless, the experience got Beatrice back out again on the dating scene after her heartbreak.

A source told the Mail On Sunday at the time: ‘Bea went on a date with a man who arrived with flowers but was left pouring with sweat when he realised who his date was.

‘Beatrice found it very funny – it was great to break the ice, great practice and he was a great guy, she said.’

In 2018, rumours about her love life had picked up yet again, as she was said to be dating British fitness trainer James Williams after they were photographed in his Bentley leaving a meal together.

However, it turned out Williams already had a girlfriend, who was quick to shut down the rumours.