It was a candid conversation from a royal who usually keeps her private life close. Princess Beatrice, 37, daughter of Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, and niece of King Charles, has opened up about the arrival of her younger daughter, Athena, who was born a few weeks early on 22 January this year. With her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 41, she is also mum to Sienna, 4, and stepmum to Christopher Woolf, 9.
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A birth that came early
Beatrice shared that Athena’s pregnancy required "closer monitoring", and she and Edoardo “understood they needed to prepare for an early arrival”. The couple’s mindset shifted to contingency mode: bags ready, plans adjusted, and appointments stepped up. She expressed deep gratitude for the medical teams who kept a close watch and for the support network that formed around them at short notice.
When Athena arrived several weeks ahead of schedule on 22 January, the news came with both relief and a rush of practical decisions. Beatrice said her daughter was healthy, an outcome she clearly does not take for granted. Even so, she described the period leading up to the birth as a spell of "pure worry", when every movement counted and every quiet moment triggered fresh questions.
The lonely side of preterm birth
As patron of the research charity Borne, Beatrice spoke on The Borne Podcast’s episode released on Monday 17 November 2025, using the platform to highlight how common — and how isolating — preterm experiences can feel. She noted that the prospect of delivering early can be "incredibly lonely" for mothers:
"I think so often, especially as [moms], we spend our lives, you know, feeling we have to be perfect to do this. And sometimes, when you are faced with that moment of learning that your baby's going to come a bit early, it can be incredibly lonely."
That’s where Borne comes in, she explained.
The charity "funds research to advance our knowledge of pregnancy and childbirth, and improve the lives of mothers and babies" while also creating a space to ask questions and swap stories.
In conversation with Professor Mark Johnson, she stressed the value of bringing data, tools and real-life experiences together so families don’t feel they’re navigating the unknown on their own.
Beatrice described the informal bonds that form between mothers who have been there — a kind of "secret club" that offers perspective, calm and practical advice at 3 a.m. She argued that sharing lived experiences matters: not only does it reassure parents in the moment, it also helps researchers and clinicians spot patterns and improve care over time:
"Then maybe we can learn from each other," she added.
Her advocacy is personal as well as public. Beatrice first reflected on Athena’s early arrival in a March piece for British Vogue, and she has returned to the subject to mark World Prematurity Day, aiming to amplify voices that are too often quiet. Can a chorus of stories change the support parents receive ? She believes it can — and that Borne’s work is a crucial bridge between lab breakthroughs and bedside realities.
"And I love the fact that Borne is there to support them [mothers] when they're going through something incredibly traumatic, and how can we make sure that phenomenal data, great tools, great doctors, have everything at their disposal so that no [mom] can feel alone," the mom-of-two shared.
From anxiety to relief
Beatrice admitted "It took more than a few weeks for the tears of relief to dry and for life with our healthy baby to feel real".
That timeline, she suggested, is normal, even if few people talk about it. Early arrivals reset expectations: parents celebrate milestones on a different calendar, while learning to trust their instincts again.
Her message is ultimately one of solidarity. If preterm birth can feel isolating at first, there are communities, clinicians and charities ready to close the gap. Borne — which she proudly supports — is part of that safety net, pooling research and real-world stories so families feel seen, informed and, crucially, less alone.
By putting words to the worry and naming the support that helped, Beatrice offers a route map for other parents bracing for an early arrival. Talk to your medical team, lean on friends who understand, and remember that the anxious early days do ease. For Beatrice and Athena, they already have.
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