The excitement of a new baby royal arrival has dominated headlines and history, with the announcements offering a glimpse into the birth and joy of the newest member of the monarchy.
Among all the royal babies we’ve joyfully welcomed into the world, Princess Beatrice and her, husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi have officially welcomed the smallest royal newborn to date. The royal couple announced the arrival of their daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose, on Wednesday, 29 January, who was prematurely and weighed just 4lbs 5oz.
Over the years, the newborn royals have arrived at various different times and have weighed anything from 4lbs to over 8lbs. In honour of Beatrice’s second child, we’ve taken a look back at some of the smallest royal arrivals and how much they sweetly weighed…
Athena Elizabeth Rose, 4lbs 5oz
As mentioned, Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi’s second child together, Athena Elizabeth Rose, is the smallest newborn the Royal Family have welcomed. Weighing just 4lbs 5oz, her father even shared a gushing tribute to his newborn daughter, which highlighted her small frame. In an Instagram, alongside a photo of Athena wrapped in a blanket, he wrote, “Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi. We welcomed baby Athena into our lives last week. She is tiny and absolutely perfect. We (including Wolfie and Sienna) are all already completely besotted with her. Our hearts are overflowing with love for you, baby Athena.”
The newborn is a little sister for the couple’s three-year-old daughter Sienna, and Edoardo’s son and Beatrice’s stepson, eight-year-old Wolfie. The baby, who will not be an HRH, is born 11th in line to the throne, with Beatrice’s younger sister Princess Eugenie moving down to 12th place.
A statement from Buckingham Palace said: “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, 22nd January, at 12.57pm, at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London.
“The baby was born weighing four pounds and five ounces. Their Majesties The King and Queen and other members of the royal family have all been informed and are delighted with the news.”
Lady Louise Windsor, 4lbs 9oz
The second smallest royal baby was Lady Louise Windsor, who was born four weeks early on 8 November 2003. Due to her early arrival, her father, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, had been in Mauritius at the time for an official visit and was unable to return home on the day that Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, was rushed to Frimley Park Hospital in Sussex with severe internal pains.
Sophie was seriously ill as she lost nine pints of blood through internal bleeding. Doctors were forced to perform an emergency caesarean as her condition threatened to harm her and the baby. Lady Louise was born weighing just 4lbs 9oz and was rushed to St George’s Hospital to receive specialist care. During this time, Sophie remained in Frimley Park Hospital for another 16 days while she recovered.
In 2014, Sophie returned to Frimley Park Hospital to officially open a new neonatal unit and shared a heartfelt message. She said, “I want to say well done to everyone for your fundraising and for all the work you do to help thousands of families – your service is the difference between life and death.
“I know all the staff are really keen to get everything started. It is a great working environment and the results you are having are testament to this investment. It has been something really important in my life and so I thank you again for inviting me here today.”
Prince Edward, 5lbs 7oz
Prince Edward was the lightest of his siblings, having weighed 5lbs 7oz when he was born on 10 March 1964. His mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II and father, Prince Philip, had joyfully welcomed him at Buckingham Palace, where they broke a royal tradition.
Unlike other royal births, Philip joined the Queen in the delivery room as an official announcement read, “His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh was present.” The Queen had read about fathers being involved in the birth and was keen to have the same experience.
Royal expert Ingrid Seward wrote in her book ‘My husband and I: The Inside Story of 70 years of Royal Marriage’, “The Queen, by then aged 37, had asked him to be there; she’d been keenly reading women’s magazines that stressed the importance of involving fathers in childbirth and had become fascinated by the idea.
“Thus Philip became the first royal father in modern history to witness the arrival of one of his children.”
Princess Anne – 6lbs
The Queen’s second eldest and only daughter, Princess Anne, was born on 15 August in 1950, joining her older brother, the now King Charles. The Princess Royal weighed exactly 6lbs, and unlike her three brothers, was born at Clarence House instead of Buckingham Palace due to undergoing renovations.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip lived at Clarence House from 1949 to 1953, and according to reports, details of baby Anne’s arrival were “posted on the gates of Clarence House”. After welcoming his first daughter, Philip sweetly declared, “It’s the sweetest girl”.
James, Earl of Wessex, 6lbs, 2oz
The birth of James, Earl of Wessex, was far less traumatic than his older sister’s arrival, Lady Louise, just four years earlier. Prince Edward and Sophie welcomed their son, via a C-section on 17 December 2007 at Frimley Park Hospital. He weighed 6lbs 2oz and was described by his father as being “very cute and very cuddly.”
Confirming baby James’ arrival, a statement was released from the Queen’s secretary. It read, “Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex today was safely delivered of a baby boy by caesarean section at 4.20pm, at Frimley Park NHS Hospital in Surrey. The weight of the baby was 6lbs 2oz. The Earl of Wessex was present.”
