Princess Beatrice expecting second child

Britain's Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are expecting their second child together, Buckingham Palace announced on Tuesday.

Beatrice, 36, is the ninth-in-line to the throne and the eldest daughter of King Charles's younger brother Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York.

She married property developer Mapelli Mozzi in July 2020, and the couple already have one daughter, Sienna, who is now three. Mapelli Mozzi also has a son called Wolfie, eight, from a previous relationship.

"His majesty the king has been informed and both families are delighted with the news," the palace said, adding the new royal was due in early spring.

The happy news comes during one of the royal family's most personally challenging years, with the King, the Princess of Wales and Beatrice's mother Sarah, Duchess of York all being diagnosed with cancer.

Sarah was treated for malignant melanoma skin cancer in January, just months after undergoing a mastectomy for breast cancer, but Beatrice said in May the duchess had been given the "all clear".

The baby, who will not be an HRH, will be born 11th in line to the throne, with Beatrice's younger sister Princess Eugenie moving down to 12th place.

with PA