Royal Reveals Premature Birth Struggles, Calls for More Research

In a recent interview, Princess Beatrice has opened up about the difficulties of premature birth, stating that it "can be incredibly lonely" for mothers. Beatrice, the eldest daughter of Prince Andrew, is currently fronting a campaign for the premature birth research charity Borne.

Beatrice's own experience with premature birth came in January 2025, when her second daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose, was born several weeks early. The Princess was due to give birth in early spring, but in December 2024, doctors advised her not to travel long distances due to the risk of a premature arrival.

Now, Beatrice is using her platform to raise awareness and support for Borne's work. She believes that more data and research are needed to better understand and address the challenges of premature birth. "I was really quite shocked to learn that we really do not have as much data with women's health, with pregnant women's health," Beatrice told The Borne Podcast.

The Princess hopes that by sharing her story and encouraging other mothers to do the same, Borne can make significant progress in this critical area of medical research. "Then maybe we can learn from each other," she said.

Each year, 60,000 babies are born prematurely in the UK, and complications from premature birth remain the leading cause of neonatal death and lifelong disability globally. Yet, pregnancy and childbirth receive less than 2% of medical research funding, according to Borne.