Princess Beatrice remained professional as she addressed a conference in Dubai on Thursday, just hours after news of her ex-boyfriend’s death became public.
The Princess of York, 35, looked regal in a blue satin dress as she appeared at the event aimed at encouraging collaboration between entrepreneurs in Britain and the UAE.
A few hours earlier, it emerged that her ex-boyfriend Paolo Liuzzo had been found dead in a hotel room in Miami in February after a suspected overdose. Yesterday it was reported that the princess was ‘heartbroken’ by the news.
In photos posted to Instagram by the Fiker Institute, which organized the event together with OPUS (of which Beatrice is a board member), the professional royal proved the show must go on as she beamed alongside other delegates.
Princess Beatrice (pictured) attended an event in Dubai on Thursday aimed at boosting cooperation between entrepreneurs in the UAE and Britain
Princess Beatrice, who sits on the board of OPUS, gave a speech at the event and was seen in conversation with Dubai Abulhoul, the founder of the Fiker Institute.
She also took the opportunity to speak with Oliver Christian, British Consul General in Dubai and HM Trade Commissioner for the Middle East and Pakistan and OPUS Chairman and Founder, Sam Tidswell-Norrish.
Commenting on the launch, Princess Beatrice said: ‘As the world moves faster and faster, especially with the advent of new technologies, it is important to remember that relationships are at the heart of every success story.
“Our mission to connect builders and unlock opportunity is at the heart of that philosophy, and I believe creating a community of entrepreneurs eager to help each other will only further catalyze the UAE’s extraordinary story.”
This week it emerged that the princess’s young love was found dead in his hotel room in Miami in February.
Officer Michael Vega, of the Miami Police Department, said The sun Police visited a room at the CitizenM Miami Worldcenter hotel on February 7 at 3:22 p.m.
The cause of death has not been officially reported, but Officer Vega said, “It was investigated as an overdose death. The investigation is open and ongoing.”
Princess Beatrice started dating Liuzzo in 2005 when she was 17 and he was 24, but the couple split in 2006.
The royal, 35, was in Dubai for the launch of a new partnership between Dubai-based think tank Fiker Institute and Britain’s OPUS, which helps business leaders access new opportunities. L-R: Oliver Christian, British Consul General in Dubai and HM Trade Commissioner for the Middle East and Pakistan; Princess Beatrice; Dubai Abulhoul, the founder of the Fiker Institute; and Sam Tidswell-Norrish, chairman and founder of OPUS
Insiders have revealed that Liuzzo struggled with both gambling and drugs and claimed he had racked up debts with loan sharks, according to The Sun. A friend of Liuzzo told the newspaper: “Paolo wasn’t doing so well on a personal level.
‘He first started using a lot of pharmaceutical drugs, but that later led to cocaine and harder drugs. It was a very fast-paced lifestyle and we were all afraid it would eventually catch up with him.”
Liuzzo had reportedly dabbled with drugs and was previously arrested in Australia for a series of offences, including possession of cocaine.
He was arrested on September 27, 2009 on the Gold Coast after crashing a black $90,000 Audi rental car into traffic lights.
The then 27-year-old was also unable to pay the accommodation and restaurant bills at the Conrad Jupiters casino.
Australian police have charged Liuzzo with fraud, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, possession of two grams of cocaine and driving without due care and attention. Liuzzo pleaded guilty and was fined $5,000.
His controversial past began in 2002 when he was charged with the manslaughter of a fellow student at Heilig Kruiscollege.
His fellow student, 19-year-old Jonathan R. Duchatellier, died as a result of a fight that occurred on May 5, 2002, at an off-campus apartment building at 510 Cambridge St., involving Liuzzo.
The princess wore a navy blue silk satin dress from the Australian brand Zimmerman for the occasion
The charge was later reduced to assault and Liuzzo served community service.
Hailing from Woodbury, New York, Liuzzo was considered an American socialite at the time of his romance with Beatrice.
Liuzzo and Beatrice met through mutual friends and started dating in July 2005. They managed to keep the relationship a secret for almost a year, but they broke up in May 2006 when reports of the manslaughter charges surfaced, causing a sensation.
Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson encouraged Beatrice’s romance with Liuzzo, despite their seven-year age difference and criminal past.
“We all have our own journey and have to learn our way, but Beatrice is a sensible girl, soon to be 18, with many friends, including Paolo,” Beatrice’s mother said when the relationship began.
The royal couple invited Liuzzo for a family vacation to the exclusive Swiss ski resort of Verbier.
It subsequently emerged that Liuzzo had ignored the terms of his probation to go on holiday to Switzerland with the Queen’s granddaughter and her family – including Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York – in 2006.
As a result, he was shipped back to the US, where his three-year probation was extended by the court as punishment, forcing Beatrice to end the budding romance.