Princess Beatrice’s former partner Paolo Liuzzo was found dead of a drug overdose in a Miami hotel room last February, with the news now breaking in the British press.
In particular, Liuzzo was found dead at 15:22 on February 7 in the room of the hotel “civilM Miami Worldcenter” in Miami where he was staying.
His funeral was held in Long Island, New York, the city where he grew up, on February 16.
Beatrice is said to be devastated by the news of Liuzzo’s death, according to British newspaper The Sun, even though it has been almost 20 years since they split. He was one of her first loves, and while their relationship was rocky to say the least, Liuzzo reportedly held a special place in her heart.
Prince Andrew’s daughter started dating Liuzzo in 2005, when she was 17 and he was 24, but the couple split in 2006.
What did Princess Beatrice’s ex-partner die of?
The cause of Liuzzo’s death has not been officially released, but Miami Police Department Officer Michael Vega said, “It is being investigated as a drug overdose death. The investigation is open and ongoing.”
Sources said Liuzzo struggled with gambling and drug addiction and allegedly claimed he was in debt to loan sharks. A friend of Liuzzo told the Sun: “Paolo was not doing well on a personal level. He began using many drugs at first, but this later led to cocaine and harder drugs. It was a very intense lifestyle and we were all scared.”
Liuzzo reportedly struggled with drugs and had previously been arrested in Australia for a number of offences, including possession of cocaine.
He was arrested on the Gold Coast on September 27, 2009, after crashing a $90,000 black Audi rental car. The then 27-year-old also failed to pay his bills at the Conrad Jupiters casino for his stay there, leading to further complications.
Australian law enforcement also charged Liuzzo with fraud, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, possession of two grams of cocaine and driving without due care. Liuzzo pleaded guilty and was fined $5,000.
In fact, in 2002, Liuzzo was accused of murdering a fellow student at the College of the Holy Cross.
His turbulent relationship with Princess Beatrice
Liuzzo, who hailed from Woodbury, New York, was considered a US socialite at the time of his relationship with Beatrice.
Liuzzo and Beatrice met through mutual friends and began dating in July 2005. They managed to keep their relationship a secret for almost a year – but broke up in May 2006 when talk began that he might be charged with the murder of a fellow student.
Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson encouraged Beatrice’s romance with Liuzzo, despite their seven-year age difference and his court entanglements.
“We all have our own journeys and we have to learn our way, but Beatrice is a sensible girl, soon to be 18, with many friends, including Paolo,” Beatrice’s mother had said when the relationship began. In fact, at that time they had invited Liuzzo for a family vacation in the Swiss ski resort of Verbier.
These vacations were of course episodic, as it later became known that Liuzzo had violated the ban on exiting the US that had been imposed on him, to come to Europe and vacation with the queen’s granddaughter and her family.
He was extradited back to the US and given an additional three-year ban from leaving the country as punishment for breaking the term, forcing Beatrice to end the affair.
In 2007 he embarrassed the royal family by claiming he smoked marijuana in the presence of Beatrice, Eugenie’s sister and their mother while they were on holiday in Jamaica.
The self-proclaimed playboy admitted he cheated on Beatrice during their relationship and said he wanted to introduce him to the Queen.
The princess was reportedly heartbroken when their romance ended and returned to Goldsmiths, University of London.
Liuzzo’s death certificate revealed that he worked as a consultant in the art industry and had never married.
Photos: Splashnews, Facebook
