Meaning behind Princess Beatrice’s baby’s name as Buckingham Palace shares details of premature birth

Earlier this month (22 January), Princess Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, welcomed their second daughter together.

The couple, who tied the knot back in 2020, announced the news with a photograph of the newborn, who was born several weeks premature, wearing a long-sleeved baby sleepsuit and wrapped in a pink blanket.

While the announcement clearly came as a shock as the princess was due to give birth in the early spring, both mum and baby are now said to be at home and recovering well.

The royal couple have since expressed their sincere thanks to the team at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for 'their wonderful care'.

Buckingham Palace has now revealed details surrounding the birth, also sharing the name of the latest addition to Beatrice and Edoardo's family.

Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi welcomed their second child earlier this month (Max Mumby/Indigo / Contributor / Getty Images)

The statement reads: "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 January 22 at 12.57pm, at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London. The baby was born weighing 4 pounds and 5 ounces.

"Their Majesties The King and Queen and other members of the royal family have all been informed and are delighted with the news."

Athena's weight indicates that she was born early, weighing the equivalent of two and a half bags of sugar. At 37 weeks pregnant - which is considered full term - the NHS explains that the average baby weighs between three and four kilograms (up to 8.8lb).

Edoardo, who is already dad to his and Beatrice's three-year-old daughter, Sienna, and eight-year-old son, Christopher Woolf, who he had from a previous relationship, added on Instagram: "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."

Now, there are a number of possible sweet meanings behind baby Athena's name - many of which are steeped in royal family tradition.

Athena could possibly be a reference to the ancient Greek goddess of wisdom, war and the crafts, Harper's Bazaar reports.

Little Athena weighed 4 pounds and 5 ounces (22 January) (PA)

If so, the moniker may be a nod to Beatrice's grandfather's heritage as the late Prince Phillip was born in Greece into the Greek and Danish royal families.

Like her older sister, Sienna, Athena also has 'Elizabeth' as one of her middle names which could be a tribute to Beatrice's late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

And as for Rose?

Well, this could be a reference to the country Beatrice and her family call home, an 'English Rose'.