Princess Beatrice has delivered an emotional and deeply personal update, championing the cause of premature birth research as her father, Prince Andrew, faces renewed scrutiny in the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
A Cause Close to Her Heart
The 37-year-old royal, who has maintained a relatively low profile during her parents' very public fall from grace, is spearheading a campaign for the charity Borne. In the lead-up to World Prematurity Day on 17 November, Beatrice explained that the organisation's mission has become "incredibly close and personal" to her since the birth of her own daughter.
Her child, Athena Elizabeth Rose, was born several weeks prematurely on 22 January. Beatrice had originally been due to welcome her baby in early spring, but received medical advice in December cautioning against long journeys. This led to a change in the family's holiday plans, with the Princess opting to join the Royal Family for Christmas Day services in Sandringham instead of travelling abroad.
The Stark Reality of Premature Birth
Beatrice highlighted the critical need for more research, stating that 60,000 babies are born too soon each year in the UK, often with little understanding of the causes. Globally, the figure is a staggering 15 million infants annually.
She expressed her hope that Borne's "programme of groundbreaking research" will ultimately help countless parents and children in the future. Shockingly, a mere 2% of medical research funding is currently allocated to pregnancy and childbirth, according to the charity.
Royal Support Amid Personal Turmoil
Beatrice's advocacy comes at a tumultuous time for her family. Her father, Prince Andrew, has been embroiled in fresh humiliation following the release of 20,000 pages of Epstein-related emails by US lawmakers. The documents reportedly include communication where Andrew denies any involvement in sex abuse claims.
Despite this, Beatrice and her sister, Princess Eugenie, have retained their royal status and continue their charitable work. Beatrice, who serves as a patron of Borne, recently hosted an event for the charity at London's Battersea Power Station, showcasing their campaign slogan, "every week counts".
David Badcock, the chief executive of Borne, praised her involvement, saying "Her support helps raise awareness of the urgent need for more research into prematurity, an area that has for too long been underfunded and underexplored."
The charity is also set to launch a podcast episode this coming Monday featuring Beatrice, weather presenter Laura Tobin, and Borne founder Professor Mark Johnson, further amplifying this vital message.
