“My beloved daughter, stay strong…” – Princess Beatrice shared the first photo of her newborn daughter on Instagram, describing: “One shameful thing is…”
The 36-year-old, who earlier this month was appointed as the new patron of prematurity charity Borne, said she was now trying to put a spotlight on female health.
News of the princess’s second pregnancy was announced by Buckingham Palace in October last year.
However, routine scans soon revealed their “precious cargo” needed close monitoring, and Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi were told to prepare for an early arrival.
“What I learnt in this process has been humbling,” wrote the princess.
Despite acknowledging how fortunate she was to have access to a “remarkable” medical team, Beatrice revealed the uncertainty she experienced left her with “an overwhelming fear of the unknown”.
She wrote: “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?’”
Describing how Athena looked when she was born, Beatrice wrote the newborn had been “so tiny it took more than a few weeks for the tears of relief to dry”.
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.”
Beatrice expressed her hopes sharing her story would support other mothers going through the same uncertainty and that women’s health “has been left off the agenda”.
“My joys and fears in pregnancy and motherhood are the same as those experienced by millions of other women around the world,” she added.
The princess married her millionaire property tycoon husband in a private ceremony in 2020. The pair also share a three-year-old daughter named Sienna.
Mr Mapelli Mozzi has an eight-year-old son named Wolfie, from a previous relationship.
Princess Beatrice, who is ninth in line to the throne, is the eldest daughter of the Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York.
She has worked with a number of charities, including the Teenage Cancer Trust and co-founding the Big Change, which helps young people to develop life skills, beyond academic subjects.
Princess Beatrice has shared a heartwarming moment with royal fans by posting the very first photo of her newborn daughter from the hospital. The touching image, which has quickly gone viral across social media platforms, captures an intimate and emotional moment between mother and child shortly after birth.
The photo, taken in a softly lit hospital room, shows Beatrice cradling her baby girl gently in her arms, her eyes full of joy and exhaustion. The newborn is swaddled in a white blanket with a tiny hat on her head, sleeping peacefully against her mother’s chest. Beatrice, glowing with happiness, looks lovingly down at her daughter in the photo that many are calling a beautiful glimpse into royal motherhood.
This marks the first time that Beatrice, the daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, has shared such a private moment with the public. Although the royal family often keeps early moments like this away from the spotlight, Beatrice chose to break tradition in a subtle yet heartfelt way. Her message accompanying the photo expressed deep gratitude to the hospital staff and to everyone who had sent their best wishes:
“We are overjoyed to welcome our little girl into the world. Thank you to the incredible team at the hospital for their care and support. We feel truly blessed.”
The baby, whose name has not yet been officially announced, is Beatrice’s first child and the second for her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, who has a son from a previous relationship. According to insiders, the couple is absolutely thrilled and has been preparing for this new chapter in their lives for months.
Close friends of the family have said that Beatrice has been extremely hands-on during her pregnancy and had been looking forward to motherhood with both excitement and curiosity. In the days leading up to the birth, she reportedly spent time organizing the baby’s nursery and surrounding herself with supportive family members.
Princess Eugenie, Beatrice’s younger sister, is said to have visited the hospital shortly after the birth, and the two sisters reportedly shared an emotional moment together. Eugenie, who also has a young child, has been a great source of comfort and guidance for Beatrice as she begins her own journey into motherhood.
The photograph, while simple and tender, has made a significant impact. Fans from around the world have flooded the comments section with messages of congratulations and praise, applauding Beatrice for sharing such an honest and beautiful moment. Some noted that the image shows a more modern and relatable side of the royal family—something many people have been eager to see.
As the new parents settle into life with their baby girl, the royal family is celebrating the arrival of yet another generation. Though they’ve asked for privacy in the coming weeks, it’s clear that Princess Beatrice is overjoyed and proud to share her happiness with the world.
