The Royal Family welcomes their newest addition, Princess Beatrice’s daughter Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi, born prematurely but healthy and thriving.
Princess Beatrice has given birth to her second child, a daughter named Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi, Buckingham Palace announced.
Athena was born several weeks prematurely and weighed 4lb 5oz, but is said to be healthy and doing well. The new baby, the second child of Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, was born a week ago on 22 January at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London.
In Greek mythology, Athena was born from Zeus' head after he swallowed her pregnant mother, Metis.
According to Hesiod's 'Theogony', Zeus experienced severe headaches and ordered Hephaestus to split his skull open.
Out came Athena, fully grown and armored, ready to defend herself.
This mythological account emphasizes Athena's unique birth and her association with wisdom, war, and crafts.
The story has been depicted in various art forms throughout history, solidifying Athena's place as a powerful symbol in ancient Greek culture.
The King and Queen and other members of the Royal Family were said to be delighted at the baby’s safe arrival. In a social media post, Beatrice’s father Edoardo said: ‘She is tiny and absolutely perfect‘ and the family was ‘completely besotted with her‘.
Athena becomes 11th in line to the throne and is the grandchild of Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, and Sarah, the Duchess of York. Her first middle name, Elizabeth, is a tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II.
In Greek mythology, Athena is often associated with the city of Athens and its ruling dynasty.
According to legend, Athena was born from Zeus' head after he swallowed her pregnant mother, Metis.
As she emerged, she became the patron deity of the city and its ruler.
The Athenian kings claimed descent from Athena's son, Ericthonius, who married a mortal woman named Pandrosus.
This union produced the legendary King Cecrops I, who founded the city of Athens.
Through this lineage, Athena's influence extended to the royal family, cementing her status as a revered figure in Greek mythology.
Princess Beatrice has worked for a number of charities, including the Teenage Cancer Trust and co-founding the Big Change, which helps young people to develop life skills. She has also spoken publicly about her own struggles with dyslexia, highlighting its challenges and the need for greater support.
Beatrice, aged 36, and her daughter are both doing well, said the Palace, and the family is spending time with Athena’s older siblings Wolfie – Mr Mapelli Mozzi’s son from a previous relationship – and Sienna. The parents thanked staff at the London hospital for their ‘wonderful care‘, the same hospital where their older daughter Sienna had been born in 2021.
In ancient Greece, Athena was the goddess of war, handicraft, and wisdom. The name has become a popular choice among royal families, with Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, naming their second child Lilibet ‘Lili‘ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor in 2021.
In Athena was born from Zeus' head after he swallowed her pregnant mother, Metis.
This mythological event is attributed to a prophecy that a child of Zeus would overthrow him.
Athena emerged fully grown and armed, wearing a helmet and carrying a spear.
She became the goddess of wisdom, war, and crafts, often depicted with an owl as her symbol.
Her association with wisdom and knowledge led to her being revered in various aspects of ancient Greek life.
