Royal princess kept baby news under wraps by using one unlikely tactic

It was revealed that another princess had welcomed a child just hours after Princess Beatrice revealed her baby news – and this royal’s news was especially surprising as she’d not previously announced the impending arrival

A royal birth announcement is usually rare – but there have been two in the space of just hours.

Earlier this week, Princess Beatrice announced the birth of her newborn daughter Athena, who was welcomed several weeks early. And just hours later, the announcement came that Princess Maria Laura of Belgium and her husband William Isvy, had also welcomed a child, a son named Albert.

News of the arrival of the little boy, the couple’s first child, came as a complete shock to many as the couple had not previously announced that they were expecting. And it seems they were able to keep their news under wraps due to their very private lives.

Maria Laura was raised away from the royal spotlight and grew up in Bazel, Switzerland, until the age of five as her father worked for an international bank. Along with her four siblings – Prince Amedeo, Prince Joachim. Princess Luisa Maria and Princess Laetitia Maria – she was raised away from royal duty and rarely appears at public engagements.

It was a similar story back in 2021 when she announced her engagement to her now husband as her shunning of the spotlight meant it had not been public knowledge that the pair were even dating.

Their baby son Albert is named after his great-grandfather, Albert II of Belgium, who reigned as King from 1993 until his abdication in 2013. Baby Albert is now 11th in line to the throne but has made history as the first Belgium royal not to have been awarded a title.

News of his arrival came on the same day that Beatrice welcomed her “tiny and absolutely perfect” baby daughter Athena after giving birth several weeks premature.

The late Queen’s granddaughter’s second child was born a week ago weighing 4lb 5oz and both mother and baby are said to be healthy, doing well and now at home, Buckingham Palace said.

Beatrice’s husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi posted an emotional tribute to his daughter, saying he and the princess were “completely besotted” with the new arrival, adding “our hearts are overflowing with love for you, baby Athena”.

Mr Mapelli Mozzi also thanked the staff at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London for their “exceptional care” after Athena Elizabeth Rose – her second name a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II – arrived several weeks early on January 22. Beatrice, 36, was due to give birth in early spring, and in December received medical advice and was told not to travel long distances.

She joined the royal family at church in Sandringham on Christmas Day after changing her travel plans from spending the festive period overseas, with doctors said to have warned that a premature arrival was a possibility.

Beatrice and Mr Mapelli Mozzi released a photograph of their daughter taken by Mr Mapelli Mozzi, showing Athena with dark hair, wearing a white long-sleeved garment, and wrapped in a pink blanket with her face hidden by her arm.