Princess Beatrice is proving that some royal duties come straight from the heart not the palace.
Stepping out for her first official appearance since her father, Andrew, was stripped of his royal titles, the Princess shone a spotlight on a cause deeply personal to her, preventing premature births.
The Princess royal visited the Borne research laboratories at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital on Monday afternoon, the very hospital where she welcomed her youngest daughter, Athena, earlier this year.
The visit held deep personal significance for Beatrice, whose baby girl was born prematurely in January.
“The work Borne does is incredibly close and personal to me following the early arrival of my second daughter,” she shared during the engagement.
Athena, who arrived on 22 January weighing just 4lb 5oz, spent her first weeks in neonatal care, an experience the Princess described as “both humbling and hopeful” in a heartfelt essay for British Vogue, where she admitted it took “weeks for the tears of relief to dry.”
Beatrice investigating the causes of preterm labour
Joining Beatrice at the event was Good Morning Britain weather presenter Laura Tobin, who has also experienced the challenges of premature birth after her daughter Charlotte arrived three months early in 2017.
Together, the two mothers met with scientists and clinicians pioneering Borne’s groundbreaking research into preventing preterm labour, understanding inflammation in pregnancy, and developing new treatments to help give every baby the best possible start in life.
“The work that Borne is undertaking is incredibly close and personal to me following the early arrival of my second daughter,” Beatrice said, referring to her baby Athena, who was born prematurely in January.
“Today’s visit was not only insightful but has given me so much hope for pregnant mothers in the UK, that this topic is being taken incredibly seriously.
As a patron of Borne, I am so grateful to the scientists and clinicians who took the time today to show me the advances they are making to reduce the risks to expectant mums and babies.”
“As a parent who’s experienced the uncertainty of premature birth and how worrying it can be, today’s visit was deeply personal,” Laura shared.
“The research happening here gives me real hope that one day, fewer families will have to face what ours did. The dedication of everyone at Borne to finding answers and preventing prematurity is truly inspiring.”
Beatrice’s appearance forms part of Borne’s powerful “Every Week Counts” campaign ahead of World Prematurity Day next Monday.
To mark the occasion, the Princess will join Borne founder Professor Mark Johnson at an event at Battersea Power Station, uniting supporters, researchers, and families whose lives have been touched by premature birth.
