Princess Beatrice recalls her ‘overwhelming fear’ after realising her baby daughter Athena would likely be born prematurely in protocol-breaking candid essay

Princess Beatrice has recalled her ‘overwhelming fear’ surrounding her daughter’s pre-term birth in a candid and intimate essay. 

The royal, 36, and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, welcomed the newest addition to their family in January, when baby Athena was born several weeks premature.

Now, Beatrice has opened up about her pregnancy journey after she was informed the family needed to prepare for an early birth, in a poignant first-person essay for British Vogue.

Though she confirmed that her daughter is now ‘doing well’, she admitted the weeks before her birth were filled with crippling ‘uncertainty’ and ‘sheer worry’. 

‘Nothing quite prepares you for the moment when you realise your baby is going to arrive early,’ she wrote in the protocol-defying piece. ‘There’s so little control. Will she arrive healthy? Will there be complications? How will you juggle the rest of family life while trying to keep a tiny human safe and well?

‘You know that when your baby arrives the doctors and midwives are going to be there, doing everything they can to ensure she makes it through those challenging first few days. 

‘But you have no idea how these things will play out, what happens next. The uncertainty leaves you with an overwhelming fear of the unknown.’

Beatrice, who is already mother to Sienna, three, and stepmother to Wolfie, eight, revealed that Athena was born on January 22 – ‘weeks’ earlier than planned. 

Beatrice described ‘weeks of worry’ before her daughter (pictured) Athena was born in a personal essay for British Vogue

After routine scans, she was told Athena would need close monitoring, and that they would need to prepare for an early arrival. 

Though her daughter was ‘tiny’ when she was born, Beatrice shared that she’s now doing really well – but has no ‘precise’ explanation for what happened. 

The essay was accompanied by a new photograph of Beatrice cradling Athena protectively in her arms, with the newborn draped in a soft pink blanket. 

Another picture showed Edoardo, 41, holding Athena while gazing down at her face lovingly. 

Elsewhere in the essay, the royal expressed her determination to ‘help others find answers’ to questions about the complications of pre-term pregnancies in her new role as patron of Borne – a UK charity on a mission to end premature birth. 

She said she is committed to helping and supporting as many other families through some of the challenges she and Edoardo confronted. 

Beatrice also highlighted how ‘nothing feels more vital than facilitating the health challenges that women face daily’ after her mother, the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson’s back-to-back cancer diagnoses. 

Sarah, 65, underwent a mastectomy and reconstruction surgery in 2023, after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. 

Athena is the third child in the Mapelli Mozzi brood alongside Beatrice’s three-year-old daughter Sienna, and Wolfie, eight, from Edo’s relationship with Dara Huang. Princess Beatrice often describes Wolfie (above) as her ‘bonus’ child.

Edoardo and Beatrice at the Borne Wonderland gala, where she was named the premature birth charity’s newest patron 

Alongside the statement of her pregnancy announcement last October, Beatrice, 36, shared a picture of Edo, Sienna and Wolfie walking in the woods

Princess Beatrice is already mother to Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi, three (pictured)

In 2024, she announced she’d been diagnosed with malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer. She then underwent further surgery, around the edges of the site of the mole and lymph nodes, as doctors said it appeared the cancer had not spread. 

Writing on Instagram after the essay was published, Beatrice’s husband Edo took to Instagram to praise her bravery in speaking out. 

He said: ‘So much pride for my beautiful wife, who has bravely shared our story of Athena’s early arrival. 

‘Also for her support and patronage for the incredible organisation @bornecharity, which provided us with invaluable help during that challenging time.’

The essay was published weeks after Beatrice made her first official appearance since giving birth to Athena, with the royal stepping out for Borne’s Wonderland gala accompanied by Edoardo earlier this month. 

Her patronage was announced at the fundraising gala for the UK charity that funds research to advance knowledge of pregnancy and childbirth, improve the lives of mothers and babies, and prevent preterm birth. 

The Duke and Duchess of York’s daughter put on an elegant display for her first engagement as Borne’s patron, with Beatrice picking an all-cream ensemble for the event. 

Photographed arm-in-arm with her husband, the late Queen’s granddaughter teamed a fashionable silk skirt with a chic long sleeved blazer, featuring button and bow detailing. 

Princess Beatrice is pictured with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi

Beatrice, who fondly refers to Wolfie as her ‘bonus child’, placed a loving hand on the eight-year-old’s back at the Christmas Day service in Sandringham last year

She teamed her stylish outfit with a pair of beige heels while carrying a cream clutch bag to complement her ensemble.

With her hair styled in soft curls, Beatrice opted for a glamorous makeup look, completed with bright blush and pink lipstick.

Her husband looked equally sophisticated in a black tie outfit as he posed up a storm with his glamorous wife.

Commenting on her new role, the Princess said: ‘The work that Borne is undertaking is something that is incredibly close and personal to me following the recent birth of my daughter.

‘Every year in the UK, 60,000 babies are delivered too soon, with little information or research as to why this is.

‘That is why I am really looking forward to supporting Borne and its programme of groundbreaking research, which I hope will help thousands of parents and children in the future.’

Princess Beatrice joins a distinguished group of Borne patrons, including Will Greenwood MBE and Caro Greenwood, Dame Darcey Bussell DBE, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and Erin O’Connor MBE, all of whom share a personal connection to the cause.

Athena Elizabeth is 11th in line to the throne, pushing her aunt Princess Eugenie down to 12th place.

She’s the third child in the Mapelli Mozzi brood alongside Beatrice’s three-year-old daughter Sienna, and Wolfie, eight, from Edo’s first marriage to Dara Huang. Princess Beatrice often describes Wolfie as her ‘bonus’ child. 

Beatrice opened up about her mother Sarah Ferguson’s (pictured) illness in the essay 

In a sweet Instagram post to announce her birth, Buckingham Palace wrote: ‘Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are delighted to announce the safe arrival of their daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi, born on Wednesday, 22nd January, at 12:57pm.

‘The baby was born weighing 4 pounds and 5 ounces.

‘The King and Queen, and other members of The Royal Family, have all been informed and are delighted with the news.

‘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.’

Athena is the fourth grandchild for Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York. Their others include Princess Eugenie’s sons August, three, and Ernest, one, whom she shares with her husband Jack Brooksbank.

Edo, 41, also posted on Instagram to reveal his new daughter was ‘tiny and absolutely perfect’. 

He shared a photograph of Athena wrapped in a blanket, with the caption: ‘Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi.

‘We welcomed baby Athena into our lives last week. She is tiny and absolutely perfect.

‘We are all (including Wolfie and Sienna) already completely besotted with her.

‘Our hearts are overflowing with love for you, baby Athena.

‘A massive thank you from my wife and I goes out to all the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their exceptional care and support during this incredibly special time.’

Reposting the baby announcement on her Instagram story, Athena’s aunt Princess Eugenie wrote ‘welcome baby girl’. 

Her grandmother, Sarah Ferguson, wrote: ‘Overflowing with love and joy to be able to welcome Athena Elizabeth Rose into the world. She is already so adored and I’m incredibly blessed to be a Granny once again. So proud of Edo, Beatrice and the rest of my little 5-a-side team!’