Princess Beatrice has undertaken her first public charity engagement in the United Kingdom since her father, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, was dramatically stripped of his prince title by King Charles.
A Personal Cause for the Princess
The event, which took place on Monday 10 November 2025, saw the Princess join television weather presenter Laura Tobin for a tour of the laboratories of Borne, a charity funding vital research into preventing premature births. The visit was held at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, a location of profound personal significance for Beatrice, as it was where she gave birth to her youngest daughter, Athena, several weeks prematurely in January.
Beatrice, who became patron of Borne shortly after Athena's birth, described the charity's mission as "incredibly close and personal to me following the early arrival of my second daughter". She was joined by Laura Tobin, an ambassador for the charity, who also has a deeply personal connection to the cause. Tobin's daughter, Charlotte, was born three months early in 2017, weighing just 2lb 8oz. In comparison, Princess Beatrice's daughter Athena weighed 4lb 5oz at birth.
Royal Backdrop and Research Focus
This public appearance occurs against the backdrop of significant turmoil within the Royal Family. Just days prior, on 6 November, the King stripped his brother, Andrew, of his birthright to be a prince and his dukedom. This decisive action was a direct consequence of the Duke's widely publicised friendship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew continues to deny any wrongdoing. Following his removal from royal life, Andrew is set to move from Royal Lodge in Windsor to the King's private Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
Despite the controversy surrounding her father, Princess Beatrice and her sister, Princess Eugenie, retain their titles and have continued with their royal duties. Reports indicate that Beatrice was recently active abroad, having hosted an afternoon tea event in the Middle East during an investment summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Hope for Expectant Mothers
During the London visit, Beatrice and Tobin met with the scientists and clinicians leading Borne's pioneering research. They were given insight into projects investigating the causes of preterm labour, the role of inflammation in pregnancy, and the development of new treatments designed to prevent babies from being born too early.
In a statement, Princess Beatrice expressed her optimism, saying, "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." She added her gratitude "for 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."
The charity highlighted the critical need for this work, revealing that approximately 60,000 babies are born prematurely in the UK every year—equating to one in every 13 births. Globally, this figure rises to a staggering 15 million babies. Complications from prematurity remain the leading cause of neonatal death and lifelong disability, yet the sector is critically underfunded, with less than 2% of medical research funding dedicated to pregnancy and childbirth.
