Trigger warning: This story includes references to premature birth and medical complications during delivery.
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On 22 January 2025, Princess Beatrice welcomed her second daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi, with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. The two have another daughter together, Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi.
Princess Beatrice is also a stepmother, as Edoardo has a child from a previous relationship, Christopher Woolf, also known as Wolfie.
In recent years, the Royal Family has been more open about certain aspects of their private lives. Princess Beatrice has taken the opportunity to speak about her pregnancy experience and the fear she felt when her second daughter was born prematurely.
Princess Beatrice opens up about her child's pre-term birth
Princess Beatrice penned a heartfelt essay for Vogue, in which she opens up about her daughter's premature birth and the fear she felt.
The Princess of York acknowledges the privilege she holds due to her position in life, which allowed her to be supported by a wonderful medical team. Nonetheless, she explains that her feelings during her pregnancy were the same as those of any other expectant mother worldwide.
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.
I was very fortunate to be monitored closely by a medical team and I’m extremely aware of how lucky I am.
She then revealed that Athena ‘arrived healthy, a few weeks before her due date’. Princess Beatrice told Vogue that her second daughter was ‘so tiny’ it took a couple of weeks for the tears to stop. She added that Athena’s feet were ‘almost the same size’ as those of Sienna’s ‘soft bunnies’.
The royal took the opportunity to also let the public know that her daughter is currently doing 'really well'. She said:
I’m extremely pleased to let you know Athena is now doing really well, I have a few more answers as to what happened, but still no precise explanation.
Following the fear she felt during the end of her pregnancy, Princess Beatrice is now ‘determined’ to help other mothers in the same situation. She has since become a patron of Borne, an organisation founded with the mission of ending premature birth. She added:
Looking back over those months of sheer worry, I am filled with a sense of determination that more can be done to help others find answers to those questions around the complications that can lead to preterm birth – questions that defined my days (and nights) during pregnancy.
Princess Beatrice isn't alone in her experience within the Royal Family.
Sophie Wessex’s near-death birth story
Around the time Lady Louise celebrated her 21st birthday, The Daily Mail recounted details of her birth. The tabloid revealed that Sophie Wessex had a near-death experience when welcoming her first child, who arrived a month early.
According to the media, Sophie started to experience ‘crippling’ abdominal pains on 8 November 2003, at 6 pm. By 8 pm, the pain had increased and she called the Queen's obstetrician, Sir Marcus Setchell, who instructed Sophie to get to the nearest hospital immediately.
Sophie lost nine pints of blood through internal bleeding when she was in labour with Louise. She had suffered an acute placental abruption and was reportedly just 15 minutes away from dying in the emergency room.
At the time, Sophie’s husband, Prince Edward, was unable to be by her side as he was in Mauritius for an official visit. Eventually, Sophie gave birth to Louise via an emergency C-section.
Lady Louise only weighed 4lb 9oz (2.06 kg). The young royal was immediately transferred for specialist care. Lady Louise was born prematurely and, as a result, developed complications such as esotropia — a condition that caused her eyes to point in different directions.
Read more:
Princess Beatrice and Eugenie: This is the real reason why they are Princesses and not Ladies
Sophie the Duchess of Edinburgh became the first royal to discuss this taboo topic
Prince William and Kate Middleton ‘bruised’ by Mother’s Day photo backlash, royal expert claims
Sources used:
Vogue: ‘“There’s So Little Control”: Princess Beatrice Opens Up About Daughter Athena’s Preterm Birth In Her Own Words’
Daily Mail: ‘The day Sophie Wessex was 15 minutes from death after losing nine pints of blood: As Lady Louise Windsor turns 21, we look back at the terrifying story of her birth and how close it was to becoming a royal tragedy’
