Princess Beatrice appeared solemn as she attended the funeral of her mother Sarah Ferguson's former boyfriend Paddy McNally, the Formula One businessman who remained close to the former duchess long after their relationship ended.

The 38-year-old royal joined mourners at a private service for Paddy at St James' Church in Sevenhampton, Wiltshire, after Paddy died aged 88 last month following a long illness, two months after the death of his son Sean McNally.

Her mother Sarah, 66, was not seen at the funeral, with reports saying Beatrice represented her mother at the service.

The ceremony included a Gaelic blessing and readings, including one by Paddy's surviving son Rollo McNally.

According to the Daily Mail, a poem titled How The Dog Got Its Name was also read and soprano Ann-Marie Cullum performed In An English Country Garden.

Paddy is said to have been buried near the grave of James Bond author Ian Fleming, and a larger memorial is reportedly planned in London later this year.

Paddy amassed a substantial fortune through his involvement in Formula One and the sports hospitality industry.

He worked alongside Bernie Ecclestone and established Allsport Management, which operated corporate hospitality at Formula One races before being sold in 2006.

He and Sarah had a three-year relationship that ended in 1985, before she married Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, 66, the following year.

Paddy and Sarah nevertheless remained friends for decades.

The Daily Mail has reported speculation Paddy made financial provision for Sarah.

However, details of his will have not been made public and there has been no confirmation of what, if anything, she inherited.

Royal author Phil Dampier told the newspaper he believed Paddy may have provided for Sarah because of their longstanding friendship.

He said: "He was said to be worth £600 million and I'm sure he would have left her a substantial sum as they always remained close and were best friends."

Paddy owned properties including chalets in Verbier, Switzerland, as well as Sevenhampton Place in Wiltshire and property in St Tropez. Reports have said Sarah stayed at one of his Verbier properties while keeping a low public profile.

Sarah has largely withdrawn from public view amid renewed scrutiny of her past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

She was last publicly photographed at an Austrian ski resort in April, according to reports.

The controversy surrounding Epstein has also continued to engulf Beatrice's father Andrew, whose friendship with Epstein has dominated coverage of the former royal for years. Beatrice and her younger sister Princess Eugenie, 36, have continued to make occasional public appearances despite the scrutiny surrounding their parents.

Eugenie has meanwhile just welcomed her third child and first daughter with Jack Brooksbank, 40.

The baby was born in Lisbon earlier this month, joining the couple's sons August, five, and Ernest, three.

Beatrice's appearance at Paddy's funeral also came days after her 38th birthday.

Her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 42, marked the occasion with an Instagram tribute describing her as his "phenomenal, beautiful wife".

The couple have two daughters, Sienna and Athena, while Beatrice is stepmother to Edoardo's son Christopher "Wolfie" Woolf, 10.

The birthday message followed speculation about the couple's marriage after they were photographed together in Athens last month shortly after their sixth wedding anniversary.

Art curator Aliki Lampropoulos shared a smiling selfie with Beatrice and Edoardo during the Greece trip. Reports of marital strain have circulated, although people close to the couple have disputed suggestions their marriage is in trouble.

Beatrice and Edoardo married in a private ceremony at the Royal Chapel of All Saints in Windsor Great Park after their original wedding plans were disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip attended the ceremony.

Beatrice has remained close to her mother throughout the controversies surrounding the York family, and her attendance at Paddy's funeral placed her among mourners saying goodbye to a man who had been part of Sarah's life for more than four decades.