Great Britain can look forward to another royal baby. Seven months after her younger sister Eugenie, Princess Beatrice is now giving birth to a child.
London – 2021 will be the baby boom year for the British royals: For the fourth time this year, the royal family has welcomed offspring.
Queen granddaughter Princess Beatrice (33) gave birth to a daughter, as Buckingham Palace announced on Monday in London. The child, whose name is not yet known, is the twelfth great-grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II (95). Before that, the grandchildren Princess Eugenie – Beatrice’s sister, who is now being pushed to twelfth place in the line of succession by the newcomer – as well as Zara Tindall and of course Prince Harry with their partners had children this year.
It is very welcome positive news for the Queen and her family at a difficult time. Almost half a year ago, the monarch lost her beloved husband, Prince Philip, at the age of 99. In addition, there is still the shadow of the allegations over the Royal Family, which Harry and his wife Duchess Meghan have renewed again and again since their sensational interview in March. Racism, bullying, lack of warmth: For months, the palace has been defending itself with all means against the allegations of the couple, who have lived in the USA for around a year and a half.
“Bad news” from Prince Andrew
And from there comes more “bad news” for the Queen. A woman in the United States has filed a civil lawsuit against the Queen’s second eldest son and grandfather of the newborn baby. It’s about the abuse scandal about the deceased US entrepreneur Jeffrey Epstein, in which Andrew is said to be involved. American Virginia Giuffre claims that he sexually abused her several times over 20 years ago as a 17-year-old. Andrew dismisses the allegations, his lawyers are currently wrestling over whether the civil lawsuit can be served on him.
The case is a deep wound for the royals. Andrew is considered to be the favorite son of the Queen, who recently sought his closeness more often. However, his reputation has long been damaged, he has been resting his royal duties for years, and he hardly appears in public anymore.
After all, the 61-year-old is now back on business in his private life. He won two grandchildren this year. The younger daughter Eugenie (31) gave birth to little August in February, now followed by the birth of Beatrice’s daughter. For the sisters it is always the first child. Beatrice had married her fiancé Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in 2020 without public announcement and in the closest family circle.
Another marriage in prospect?
The mother of the Queen’s two granddaughters is Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson (both 61). The couple separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996. Most recently, British newspapers greedily picked up on the report in Vanity Fair magazine that the two could marry again. The fact that the red-haired “Fergie” accompanied her ex on the Queen’s visit was also taken as an indication that she supported him in the abuse scandal.
But now all strength and concentration apply to the newborn. The baby was born on Saturday evening at 11.42 p.m. (0.42 a.m. CEST), the palace said. The weight was given – traditionally according to imperial measurements – with 6 pounds and 2 ounces, which corresponds to around 2.78 kilograms. “I am very happy to share the news of the safe arrival of our daughter,” tweeted the happy Beatrice. And the palace added that grandparents and great-grandparents are all delighted. “Your Royal Highness and child are fine and the couple look forward to introducing their daughter to big brother Christopher Woolf.” Born in 2016, Christopher, nicknamed Wolfie, is the son of husband Edoardo from a previous relationship with the US Architect Dara Huang. dpa
