How will Princess Beatrice's baby change the royal line of succession and will they have a title?

Princess Beatrice is expecting her first child and the new arrival will mean huge changes for the monarchy—but how will Princess Beatrice’s baby change the line of succession? 

• Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi have announced the exciting news that they are expecting their first child together, due in Fall 2021. 
• Princess Beatrice’s baby will push many relatives down a place in the royal line of succession when they are born. 
• In other royal news, fans praise Prince William as he receives his first dose of Covid-19 vaccine—'Congratulations, your buffness’.   

Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi married in a secret wedding in Windsor last July. Though the Queen and Prince Philip both attended, Covid-19 restrictions meant that it was not the huge royal wedding we’ve seen in recent years. Nevertheless, royal fans were delighted to learn of the couple’s marriage and were even more excited this week when Princess Beatrice announced she is pregnant with a heartwarming post.

The statement declared: ‘Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are very pleased to announce that they are expecting a baby in autumn of this year. The Queen has been informed and both families are delighted with the news.’

With so many new royal babies being born this year, this changes things dramatically. The British royal line of succession continually evolves, with any relatives already below the new baby’s royal parent being pushed down a place.

But how exactly will Princess Beatrice’s baby change the royal line of succession?

How will Princess Beatrice’s baby change the royal line of succession? 

When Princess Beatrice’s baby arrives, they will be born 11th in the royal line of succession. Princess Eugenie as Beatrice's younger sister will come after her new niece or nephew and will be 12th, with August Brooksbank at 13th. 

As children of the Queen’s second son Prince Andrew, Beatrice and Eugenie are currently higher up in the royal line of succession, at 9th and 10th respectively. But when Prince Harry and Meghan’s second child is born they will go down a place. This is because Harry and all of his children are higher than them in the line of succession, as his father Prince Charles is the Queen's eldest son and heir. 

As Harry’s daughter is understood to be due at some point this summer, this shift downwards will happen before Princess Beatrice’s baby arrives—hence why her child will be 11th overall. 

And of course, the position of the Cambridge children in the line of succession will be unchanged—with Prince George third in line, Princess Charlotte fourth, and Prince Louis second. In fact, the recent adorable Kate and William anniversary documentary shared a touching look at the birth of the most immediate heirs to the throne. 

The birth of Princess Beatrice’s baby will also affect two of the Queen’s children and in turn their own children and grandchildren. Youngest son Prince Edward will be 14th and although Princess Anne is older than him, she will be 17th. She is so low in the line of succession as she was born before Her Majesty’s Succession to the Crown Act 2013. This changed things to ensure that sons and daughters of the monarch now have equal right to the throne rather than daughters coming after their brothers.

Will Princess Beatrice's baby have a title? 

Princess Beatrice’s baby will not automatically be guaranteed a British royal title when they are born as their father Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi does not have one. This could change, though, if the Queen decides to offer one. Princess Anne was previously offered titles for her children Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, though she chose for them to grow up without them.  

However, Princess Beatrice’s baby will have a title though Princess Eugenie’s son does not, as Edoardo’s family was part of the Italian Nobility and has retained the accompanying titles. This means that the baby will inherit the title of Cont or Nobile Donna—which means "noble woman" in Italian.

What relation will Princess Beatrice's baby be to the Queen? 

Princess Beatrice’s baby will be the Queen’s twelfth great-grandchild. Their birth will follow the arrival of Prince Harry and Meghan’s second child and comes in what is a momentous year for royal births. Earlier in 2021, Princess Eugenie gave birth to August and Zara Tindall had her son Lucas. Both of these baby boys have ‘Philip’ as a middle name, thought to be in tribute to their late great-grandfather. Whilst Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to name their baby girl after Prince Philip in a special tribute too. 

Does Princess Beatrice’s baby have any siblings? 

Though this will be Princess Beatrice’s first baby, her husband Edoardo has a son named Christopher Mapelli Mozzi from a previous relationship who will be the new baby's half-brother. Affectionately nicknamed ‘Wolfie’ by his loved ones, Edoardo’s son is understood to have attended the couple’s wedding in July 2020 and served as a page boy. He will no doubt be as excited as the Royal Family to welcome Princess Beatrice’s baby later this year.