Princess Beatrice has reflected on the uncertainty she felt during her pregnancy journey and the premature birth of her daughter Athena.
In a personal essay for British Vogue, she said the process was “humbling”, and spoke of the “uncertainty” she felt leading up to Athena’s birth.
“Nothing quite prepares you for the moment when you realise your baby is going to arrive early. There’s so little control,” she wrote for the publication.
The Princess said she was “extremely aware” of how lucky she was for her daughter to arrive into the world safely and in good health.
“I’ve had a life that is out of the ordinary, but my joys and fears in pregnancy and motherhood are the same as those experienced by millions of other women around the world,” she also penned.
“Like countless other expectant mums, I lay awake in the weeks leading up to birth, trying to monitor each movement of the baby in my tummy and asking myself a thousand times: ‘What if this happens, or what if that happens?’”
Along with sharing her thoughts, Princess Beatrice was “extremely pleased” to let readers know that Athena was “now doing really well”.
“She was so tiny it took more than a few weeks for the tears of relief to dry and for life with our healthy baby to feel real,” she wrote in the essay.
“Her feet were so small – almost the same size as the paws on one of my older daughter’s soft bunnies.”
In the piece, she also spoke about her passion for advocating for the advancement of women’s research into health issues, such as premature births. In early March, she became the patron of Borne, a medical research charity aimed at preventing premature births.
Who are Princess Beatrice’s children?
Ever since her daughter Sienna’s birth in September 2021, Princess Beatrice has kept her life relatively private. Luckily for royal fans, her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi posts snippets of their life behind the royal curtain.
Princess Beatrice and her husband Edo now have three children together: eight-year-old Christopher Woolf Mapelli Mozzi, who he shared with former fiancée Dara Huang, and their daughters Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi, and Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi.
Athena Rose Mapelli Mozzi
Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, welcomed their second child Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi on January 22, 2025.
The Palace made the announcement on January 30 and revealed she was born at 12.57pm, weighing four pounds and five ounces.
An initial pregnancy announcement was made by the Palace in October 2024, revealing she was meant to be due in Europe’s spring.
“The King and Queen, and other members of The Royal Family have all been informed and are delighted with the news,” the Instagram post read, which was accompanied by a photo Edoardo took.
“Princess Beatrice and Mr Mapelli Mozzi would like to thank all the staff at the hospital for their wonderful care.”
“Her Royal Highness and her daughter are healthy and doing well, and the family are enjoying spending time together with Athena’s older siblings, Wolfie and Sienna.”
Edoardo also shared the news with the photo, and said the family was “already completely besotted with her”.
“Our hearts are overflowing with love for you, baby Athena. 💕,” he gushed at the time.
He also thanked the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital staff.
Proud grandmother Sarah, Duchess of York, posted her congratulations on Instagram and said she was “incredibly blessed to be a Granny once again.”
According to Hello Magazine, Princess Beatrice’s newborn daughter will not receive a royal title from the British Royal family. This is because Edoardo did not receive a royal title from Queen Elizabeth II when he and Beatrice married.
Instead, as Edoardo is an Italian Count, his and Beatrice’s child may inherit a title of count or ‘nobile donna’.
Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi
Sienna was born on September 18, 2021, at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London. A family friend of the royal couple has previously told HELLO! that Sienna’s name is inspired by Beatrice and her mother, Sarah Ferguson’s, red hair.
“They were looking for an Italian name which started with an S for Sarah, to honour the Duchess [Sarah Ferguson], and also reflected the golden rust colour of both the Duchess’s hair colour and Beatrice’s, which the new baby shares,” the source told the publication.
Sienna celebrated her second birthday in September 2023, with her father sharing a sweet Instagram tribute on her special day.
“Happy Birthday Baby Girl. You bring us so much love and joy every day,” he wrote in the caption.
In 2022, Sienna made her public debut alongside her mum in London, in a pale blue cardigan.
At the time, the cute 14-month-old joined her mum, who is the granddaughter of the late Queen Elizabeth II, and her big half-brother Wolfie on the outing. The trio met up with Nikki Shale, who is mum to Bea’s property developer husband Edo, for brunch at a snazzy Chelsea café.
“Onlookers were obsessed with sweet little Sienna,” a source told New Idea. “People couldn’t get over how much she looks like her mum. Those York genes are strong!”
Sources said that Sienna “worships Wolfie” and was “as cute as a button and such a happy, contented” child.
“Beatrice has taken so well to motherhood and stepmotherhood,” the friend said.
Christopher Woolf Mapelli Mozzi
Christopher Woolf, who has been nicknamed Wolfie, was born on March 28, 2016, to Edo’s then-girlfriend Dara Huang; an American architect and designer. Edo and Dana were engaged up until they separated in 2018, establishing joint custody of their son.
Wolfie lives with his mum in London, however, as Dana splits time between London and Hong Kong for work, he spends time with his father when she is away.
Princess Beatrice has affectionately referred to Wolfie as her “bonus son” as she talked with HELLO! about home-schooling him during the pandemic.
“I’ve felt very lucky to have had the chance to work with my bonus son over the course of the school closures,” she said. “It was a huge learning curve for all of us.”
Wolfie made his first family Christmas royal appearance in 2022 and walked hand-in-hand with his stepmom during their annual walk to the holiday church service at St. Mary Magdalene in Sandringham. This was the second time he’d stepped out publicly with the royal family.
His first appearance was in June of the same year when he joined them for Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant.
Where do Princess Beatrice’s children sit in the royal line of succession?
The succession to the throne is regulated through descent and Parliamentary Statute. First in line to the throne is William, Prince of Wales, followed by his son Prince George of Wales.
Currently, Princess Beatrice is in ninth place in the line of succession followed by her daughter Miss Sienna, in 10th place, and Miss Athena in 11th.
With the newest addition to the family, Princess Eugenie has moved to 12th place.
