Paolo Liuzzo, ex-boyfriend of Princess Beatrice of York, died of what is suspected to be a drug overdose last February, according to The Sun newspaper. According to data published by the aforementioned British media last Wednesday, the art consultant and businessman would have died in a hotel room in Miami (Florida, USA) during the early hours of February 7, until the Police were alerted to the event.
Michael Vega, spokesperson for the Miami Dade Police Department, tells the British newspaper that Liuzzo’s death has been investigated as an overdose, although the official cause of death has not been confirmed. What’s more, Vega adds that the case is still “open” and continues to compile clues, since Liuzzo has had repeated run-ins with the law in different narcotics cases.
Liuzzo’s problems with drugs go back a long time. According to what one of his close friends told the aforementioned newspaper, the businessman was not experiencing one of his best moments in recent years, since he was fond of parties and gambling. “We were all afraid that he would finally succumb to that fast lifestyle,” says the source consulted. “He was always borrowing money to pay off old loans. It became a vicious cycle.”
According to the newspaper, Princess Beatrice would be “devastated” after hearing the news of the death of Liuzzo, whom she dated when she was only 17 years old and the businessman was 24, in 2005. Apparently, the princess would have learned the news just after learning that her mother, Sarah Ferguson, had skin cancer months after being treated for breast cancer and undergoing reconstructive surgery after her mastectomy a few days before.
The princess’s mother initially supported the relationship. “We all have our own paths and we have to learn. Beatriz is a sensible girl, she will soon turn 18, and she has many friends, including Paolo,” she alleged in 2005.
Before their relationship, Liuzzo had been accused and sentenced for the involuntary manslaughter of his schoolmate Jonathan R. Duchatellier, after a fight while both were under the influence of alcohol. The charges were eventually reduced to assault and threats, with a sentence of 100 hours of community service.
Liuzzo violated his parole, for which he was deported to the United States. His relationship with the princess, with whom he claimed he was never “in love”, ended publicly in 2006.
“It was a stupid fight, but if it had been known that Bea and I were dating, it wouldn’t be good for her image or Sarah’s, so we all tried to keep our relationship a secret,” Liuzzo stated, according to The Sun. After their breakup, the young man assured that he was never serious with the niece of King Carlos III. “He wasn’t sure he wanted to go that deep with Bea. He loved her, but he wasn’t in love with her.”
Princess Beatrice found love with her current husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, whom she married in 2020 and has a daughter, Sienna Elizabeth (2). Mozzi also has another son, Christopher Woolf, from a previous relationship.
