Princess Beatrice gave birth to her second daughter Athena in January of this year. Athena was born premature, and only weighed 4lb 5oz when she was born. That part of Beatrice’s life has been pretty quiet this year, despite all of the drama over Bea’s parents. The British press hasn’t pried into Beatrice or Eugenie’s family lives, nor has anyone demanded that the York princesses provide monthly updates and photos of their kids. All of which to say, I didn’t even realize that Beatrice and Edo have not christened Athena yet. The christening is scheduled for this coming Friday, and Beatrice has invited her parents, much to the Mail’s chagrin.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson will attend their first royal event since their dramatic exile from public life when their granddaughter is christened on Friday, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. The former Duke and Duchess of York will step inside a royal palace for the first time since they were stripped of their titles after fresh revelations about their relationships with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Princess Beatrice, 37, and her property developer husband Edo Mapelli Mozzi, 42, will bring close family and friends to the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace where their second daughter Athena – born several weeks prematurely in January – will be baptised. One source said: ‘It’s going to be a royal occasion but everyone is dreading the thought of seeing Andrew there.’

Beatrice is said to have remained close to her mother Sarah during the turbulence of the Epstein saga, but relations with her father are understood to be more strained. An insider said: ‘Beatrice has, of course invited her father. But things are not warm between them. However, she’s worried about him. He’s going through a low ebb with his mental health and she recognises that he dotes on his grandchildren and it would be cruel to deprive him of the chance to attend the christening. Some careful conversations and diplomacy with King Charles will have taken place to get to this stage.’

It is thought Athena would have been christened earlier this year, had it not been for the painful scandal engulfing her grandparents. Her sister Sienna, now four, was baptised in 2022 within six months of her birth.

Beatrice’s sister Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank will also attend what is expected to be a private ceremony. Also attending will be European royals, including Princess Nina of Greece and Denmark, 38, who is a godmother. It is understood the King was invited but is not expected to attend – although he has no official engagements listed that day. Princess Anne will be away visiting The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Sovereign’s Parade at Camberley, in Berkshire. Princes George and Louis were also christened in the Chapel Royal, but the Waleses are not expected to be there.

While Andrew is likely to be filmed exiting and returning to his home in Royal Lodge, Windsor, he will not appear in any official photographs from the christening and will avoid cameras outside the chapel. It will be his and Sarah’s first significant public appearance since they attended the funeral of the Duchess of Kent at Westminster Cathedral in September, when they still had their royal titles.

A source said: ‘Beatrice is determined to keep the focus entirely on her daughter, but there is no escaping the moment’s significance as this will be the former Duke and Duchess of York’s first appearance at a Royal Family event and possibly the last time he steps foot in St James’s Chapel.’

[From The Daily Mail]

Massive sidenote, but it feels like the Windsors believe christenings for their second children are less urgent. The first child gets christened within six months, but the second kid is often christened at one year old or older. The Sussexes waited until Lili was more than 18 months old, if memory serves. Anyway, I don’t begrudge Beatrice for wanting her parents at their granddaughter’s christening. Nor do I begrudge the other Windsors for skipping the event completely. It sounds like everyone is doing what is appropriate and fair. The only surprising thing is that Beatrice is allowed to hold the christening on royal property. But I guess King Charles really is committed to allowing Beatrice and Eugenie to be “half-in.”

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images, Fergie’s Instagram.