Britain’s Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are expecting their second child together, Buckingham Palace says.

Beatrice, 36, is the ninth-in-line to the throne and the eldest daughter of the King younger brother Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York.

She married property developer Mapelli Mozzi in July 2020, and the couple already have one daughter, Sienna, who is three. Mapelli Mozzi also has a son called Wolfie, eight, from a previous relationship.

“His Majesty the King has been informed and both families are delighted with the news,” the palace said on Tuesday (British time), adding the new royal was due in early spring.

🎉🍼 Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are very pleased to announce that they are expecting their second child together early in the new year; a sibling for Wolfie and Sienna.

👑 His Majesty The King has been informed and both families are… pic.twitter.com/wa5XddwMsJ

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 1, 2024

The happy news comes during one of the royal family’s most personally challenging years, with the King, the Princess of Wales and Beatrice’s mother Sarah, Duchess of York all being diagnosed with cancer.

Sarah was treated for malignant melanoma skin cancer in January, just months after undergoing a mastectomy for breast cancer. Beatrice said in May the duchess had been given the “all clear”.

The baby, who will not be an HRH, will be born 11th in line to the throne, with Beatrice’s younger sister Princess Eugenie moving down to 12th place.

-with PA