Senior members of the Windsor family will have to shuffle a little further away from the throne after a royal lockdown baby boom.
The news this morning that Princess Beatrice and her husband Edo Mapelli Mozzi, who tied the knot in September last year, are expecting their first child together sees the order of succession adjusted once again.
The arrival of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s son, August, in February saw the order change, with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Valentine’s Day pregnancy announcement again altering the line. Zara Tindall gave birth in March but son Lucas’ arrival hasn’t affected the more senior succession line.
While the first seven places remain unmoved, Baby Mapelli Mozzi will now take the 11th succession spot while Baby Sussex, the second child of Harry and Meghan, due to be born this summer, is set to be eighth in line to the throne.
Beatrice, 32, and Italian property developer Edo will welcome the latest addition to the Windsor family in the autumn.
Despite being born to a princess and being 11th in line to the throne, the baby boy or girl won’t get a royal title because only grandchildren of the monarch are entitled.
Instead, it’s likely the child will be simply Master or Miss Mozzi – and will also be a half-sibling to Edo’s son, Wolfie.
Princess Beatrice and her husband Edo Mapelli Mozzi are expecting their first child in the autumn; the couple’s baby will be 11th in line to the throne. The line of succession has already changed twice this year following the birth of Princess Eugenie’s son August and the prospect of a second child for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
How the order of succession now looks: Baby Mapelli Mozzi will take the 11th spot on the line, bumping up Princess Eugenie to 12th in line. The arrival of a sibling for Archie Mountbatten-Windsor this summer will also nudge family members including Prince Andrew and Prince Beatrice along. Zara Tindall, 40, gave birth to her third child, son Lucas, in March but the most senior order is unaffected by his arrival
The Queen has been informed and both families are delighted with the news, Buckingham Palace announced this morning
The couple tied the knot in a surprise secret wedding at the Royal Chapel of All Saints, in the grounds of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson’s home of Royal Lodge, in Windsor Great Park on 25 September 2020.
Princess Eugenie’s son with financier Jack Brooksbank, August, started the bumper year for regal births with his arrival on February 9th at London’s Portland Hospital.
Zara Tindall then gave birth to new son Lucas, weighing 8lbs 4oz, in March. Zara and husband Mike, 42, also have daughters Mia, seven, and Lena, two.
In California, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are currently anticipating the birth of their second child.
The baby, a sibling for Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, two, was already set to nudge senior family members two seats further from the throne and Princess Beatrice’s happy news today sees that places shuffled once more.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s second child will become eighth in line to the throne despite being born a US citizen after the couple moved to LA to quit royal life.
Princess Eugenie pictured with baby August shortly after his birth in February (pictured together with husband Jack Brooksbank). August is currently 13th in line to the throne
Princess Eugenie pictured with August when he was just a month old, and husband Jack
The first seven places in the line of succession will remain unchanged – the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Harry, and Archie Mountbatten-Windsor.
However, when Harry and Meghan’s new addition arrives, the Duke of York, who was born second in line in 1960, will move down to ninth place.
Andrew stopped carrying out royal duties in 2019 following his controversial Newsnight interview over his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
When Harry and Meghan’s new addition – due this summer – arrives, the Duke of York, who was born second in line in 1960, will move down to ninth place in the order of succession
The baby boy or girl will enter the line of succession behind older brother Archie (pictured with Harry and Meghan in 2019) who will be two in May
Zara Tindall, 40, gave birth to her third child, son Lucas, in March, which puts him 25th in line to the throne (Zara Tindall and Mike Tindall at Cheltenham Racecourse in March 2020)
Princess Beatrice pictured with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi enjoying lunch al Fresco with a friend in Notting Hill, West London on 9 May
Harry and Meghan’s new baby will not be entitled to be an HRH nor be a prince or a princess due to rules set out more than 100 years ago by George V.
He or she is allowed to be a Lord or a Lady, but, in keeping with Harry and Meghan’s wishes, will be a plain Master, like Archie, or Miss (first name) Mountbatten-Windsor instead.
As the first-born son of a duke, Archie could have become Earl of Dumbarton – one of Harry’s subsidiary titles – or been Lord Archie Mountbatten-Windsor.
Beatrice and Edo’s baby will be the second grandchild for Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, and will be the Queen and the late Duke of Edinburgh’s eleventh great-grandchild – being born shortly after Baby Sussex.
Baby Mapelli Mozzi will now take the 11th spot on the line, bumping up his future aunt, Princess Eugenie, to the 12th spot.
Beatrice’s blended family: How the princess will raise her baby alongside stepson Wolfie – and can seek advice from aunt Princess Anne whose children are close with their half-sister
By Stephanie Linning
Princess Beatrice will become one of the few royal mothers to raise children in a blended family when she welcomes her son or daughter this year.
The Queen’s granddaughter, 32, and her property developer husband Edo Mapelli Mozzi, 38, announced today they are expecting their first child together this autumn.
Edo already has a five-year-old son Christopher Woolf, known as Wolfie, with ex-fiancé Dara Huang. American architect Dara remains on good terms with her ex and his new wife and Beatrice is a hands on stepmother.
However if Beatrice does need any advice on navigating the complex family dynamics, she doesn’t have far to look for inspiration and guidance.
roud father: Edo already has a five-year-old son Christopher Woolf, known as Wolfie, with ex-fiancé Dara Huang. American architect Dara remains on good terms with her ex and his new wife and Beatrice is a hands on stepmother to Wolfie. Pictured, at Wolfie’s 2016 Christening
Happy news! The Queen’s granddaughter, 32, and her property developer husband Edo Mapelli Mozzi, 38, announced today they are expecting their first child together this autumn. The couple tied the knot in a private service at Windsor Castle in September last year (above)
Inspiration: if Beatrice does need any advice on navigating the complex family dynamics, she doesn’t have far to look for inspiration and guidance. For her aunt Princess Anne, 70, has successfully raised her children Zara, 40, and Peter, 43, to have close a relationship with their half-sister Stephanie Phillips. Pictured, Zara with her arm around Stephanie in August 2011
For her aunt Princess Anne, 70, has successfully raised her children Zara, 40, and Peter, 43, to have close a relationship with their half-sister Stephanie Phillips.
The 23-year-old event rider is the daughter of Princess Anne’s first husband Captain Mark Phillips and his Hawaiian-born second wife Sandy Pflueger, who was part of the US dressage team at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Stephanie has been pictured at some royal events, serving a flower girl at both Zara’s 2011 wedding to Mike Tindall and Peter’s 2008 wedding to Autumn Kelly.
She has also shared candid snaps with her half-sister, who is 17 years older.
No doubt Beatrice will be hoping for a similarly close bond between Wolfie and his new brother or sister.
Fortunately Beatrice and Edo have the firm support of their families.
Happy families: Zara Tindall and Peter Philip with their younger half-sister Stephanie. She is the daughter of Princess Anne’s first husband Captain Mark Phillips and his Hawaiian-born second wife Sandy Pflueger, who was part of the US dressage team at the 1984 Olympics
Sarah Ferguson has previously released a statement saying Wolfie is seen as a grandchild and is a ‘much-loved member of the family’.
‘Wolfie is already a very much-loved member of their family and the duchess is very keen to stress that she sees Wolfie as their grandchild too,’ a spokesperson said, after Princess Eugenie announced her pregnancy last year.
Dara is also fully supportive of Beatrice, Edo and the blended family and proudly posts about ‘co-parenting’ with Edo on Instagram.
Mummy’s boy: Dara is also fully supportive of Beatrice, Edo and the blended family and proudly posts about ‘co-parenting’ with Edo on Instagram. Pictured, with Wolfie on Instagram
Close: Dara Huang shared a snap of her outside a glamorous Banda property in Notting Hill on Instagram. The property is owned by Edo and is a show of how close the pair remain
Last year, a friend of Dara and Edo insisted the estranged couple remain close, with Dara even cutting Edo’s hair and occasionally buying him clothes.
Their amicable relationship meant Dara was on the original guest list for Edo’s wedding to Beatrice, 32, before the coronavirus pandemic forced the couple to cancel their May nuptialsBeatrice and Edoardo later secretly tied the knot on July 17 in Windsor, with the Queen and Prince Philip in attendance and Wolfie acting as best man.