The reason why Princess Beatrice's child won't have a royal title: How little known rule means her second child won't be Prince or Princess...despite being 11th in line to the throne

Buckingham Palace revealed that Princess Beatrice is pregnant with her second child - but they won't get the title of Prince or Princess due to a little known rule.

The late Queen's granddaughter, 36, and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 40, are preparing to welcome a new addition to their family in early spring. 

The royal baby will be a little brother or sister for the couple's three-year-old daughter Sienna, and Mr Mapelli Mozzi's son and Beatrice's stepson, eight-year-old Wolfie.

But like Beatrice's other children, the new baby will not be known by the title of HRH or have a royal title They will be born 11th in line to the throne, with Beatrice's younger sister Princess Eugenie moving down to 12th place.

He or she will also be the 14th great-grandchild of the late Queen Elizabeth II, and the second to be born since her death in 2022, following the arrival of Eugenie's second child Ernest last year.

Prince William and Kate's children George, 11, Louis, six, and Charlotte, nine, all have royal titles.

Prince Harry and Meghan's children - Archie, five and Lilibet, three - were titled as the Prince and Princess of Sussex in March last year.

They were not prince and princess at birth, because they were not grandchildren of the sitting monarch, but they gained the right to these titles when King Charles acceded to the throne.

There is a rule which says only grandchildren of the monarch through the male line are automatically given royal titles.

These rules governing the titles of royal children were set out by King George V - Queen Elizabeth's grandfather - all the way back in 1917.

The use of HRH titles is restricted to only the monarch, the monarch's children and grandchildren, and the monarch's eldest-born's first grandson.

Under those rules, Prince George would have only been legally called a Prince, while Charlotte and Louis would be Lord and Lady Mountbatten-Windsor.

But the Queen changed the rules in 2012, allowing all children of William and Kate to take the Prince and Princess titles too.

So although their mother is a princess, Beatrice's children aren't given royal titles.

The King could bestow a title on his great-niece or nephew if desired, but it is unlikely to be asked for as this didn't happen for Sienna.

Beatrice's husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 40, also shares Wolfie, whose real name is Christopher Woolf, with his ex-fiancée, architect Dara Huang.

In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: 'Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are very pleased to announce that they are expecting their second child together in early spring; a sibling for Wolfie, aged eight, and Sienna, aged three.

'His Majesty The King has been informed and both families are delighted with the news.'

Two new pictures from the family were shared to mark the announcement, with one showing blonde-haired Sienna from behind as she walks along a country lane, holding hands in the middle of her father and big brother Wolfie.

The youngster, with a red bow in her hair, is kitted out in bright yellow wellies and an all-in-one blue waterproof puddlesuit decorated with cloud and bird motifs.

In another picture, an overjoyed Beatrice - wearing a black puffer jacket - smiles at the camera, while being embraced by Mr Mapelli Mozzi, who is gazing at his wife.

The royal baby will be 11th in line to the throne, behind older sister Sienna and mother Beatrice.

It pushes Beatrice's sister Princess Eugenie back to 12th in line.

The grandchildren will be a great niece or nephew to the King, and a second cousin of Prince George, Louis and Princess Charlotte.

He or she will also be Prince Andrew's fourth grandchild, as Princess Beatrice has two children, August and Ernest Brooksbank.

Beatrice is known to be a hands-on mother to both children, and has become close to her stepson Wolfie.

Beatrice and Edo, who are not working royals, have been married for four years after tying the knot in 2020 at the Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park.

The pair have been living in St James's Palace while their £3.5million house in the Cotswolds is being renovated.

Edo was previously engaged to Chinese-American architect Dara Huang in 2017 and the couple were together for three and a half years.

Their daughter Sienna was born on September 18, 2021, at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London.

An announcement from the Royal Family said at the time: 'Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are delighted to announce the safe arrival of their daughter on Saturday 18th September 2021, at 23.42, at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London.

'The baby weighs 6 pounds and 2 ounces. The new baby's grandparents and great-grandparents have all been informed and are delighted with the news. The family would like to thank all the staff at the hospital for their wonderful care.

'Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well, and the couple are looking forward to introducing their daughter to her big brother Christopher Woolf.'

Proud aunt Princess Eugenie, who is Beatrice's younger sister, wrote a sweet message on Instagram to congratulate the couple using her nickname 'Beabea'.

She said: 'Beabea and Edo, congratulations on your new angel. I can't wait to meet her and I'm so proud of you. We're going to have so much fun watching our children grow up. Love Euge.'

She went on to pen a meaningful note to her newborn niece, writing: 'To my new niece, I love you already and think you're just awesome from the photos.. we're going to have so much fun ⁣together. Love your Auntie Euge.'

A friend of the family said the Duchess of York returned from Balmoral to meet her new grandchild over the weekend, adding: 'She is absolutely over the moon.'

And doting father Edo wrote on social media: 'Our life together has just begun, and I can't wait to see all the amazing things that await us.

'Feeling so much love and gratitude for my amazing wife, baby Sienna and Wolfie. These are the days I never want to forget. This week, a friend said to me the sweetest saying… that with every child you grow a whole new heart.'

Beatrice - who was recently named best-dressed of the year by Tatler - has released few photographs of Sienna, and those that are publicly available mainly show the back of her head.

Beatrice, who had a close relationship with Queen Elizabeth, decided to honour her grandmother with her daughter's middle name.

Despite not having a royal title, the little girl is officially a 'Nobile Donna' and 'contessa' - the female version of a count - as a result of her father's noble ancestry.

Edoardo will one day inherit his family's seat, the 18th-century Villa Mapelli Mozzi palace in northern Italy.