Princess Beatrice’s newborn daughter brings shift in Royal succession

Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, have welcomed their second child, a daughter named Athena Elizabeth Rose.

The baby was born several weeks earlier than expected. Athena is a younger sister to the couple’s three-year-old daughter, Sienna.

The new royal arrival brings a shift in the line of succession. Beatrice, the late Queen Elizabeth II’s granddaughter, remains ninth in line, followed by her children.

Athena’s birth places her in the 11th position, pushing Beatrice’s younger sister, Princess Eugenie, down to 12th. This change also affects Eugenie’s sons, August and Ernest, who now hold the 13th and 14th spots.

Further down the line, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, moves to 15th place, with his son James, the Earl of Wessex, and daughter Lady Louise Windsor following at 16th and 17th.

Princess Anne, the King’s only sister, sits at 18th, while her children and grandchildren shift accordingly, placing Peter Phillips and his daughters, Savannah and Isla, alongside Zara Tindall further down the list.

Athena’s birth brings a moment of joy to the Royal Family amid a challenging year, with King Charles, the Princess of Wales, and Beatrice’s mother, Sarah, Duchess of York, all facing health battles.

The family’s latest addition offers a bright spot in an otherwise difficult time.