The hidden which means behind Princess Beatrice’s daughter’s title – as she joins royal cousins custom of naming infants after the Queen and Prince Philip

Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi welcomed their second daughter into their lives last week – and followed a sweet tradition shared by the royal cousins when it came to naming her.

Athena Elizabeth Rose was born on January 22 at 12.57pm and is 11th in line to the throne, pushing her aunt Princess Eugenie down to 12th place. 

She becomes the third child in the Mapelli Mozzi brood alongside Wolfie, eight, from Edo’s former engagement to Dara Huang, and Beatrice’s three-year-old daughter Sienna.

Despite Athena being born several weeks before her due date and weighing just 4lbs 5oz, a statement from the palace assured that mother and baby were ‘safe’, ‘healthy and doing well’.

In a sweet post on Instagram, proud father Edo, 41, confirmed: ‘We welcomed baby Athena into our lives last week. She is tiny and absolutely perfect.

‘We are all (including Wolfie and Sienna) already completely besotted with her. Our hearts are overflowing with love for you, baby Athena.’

Fittingly, Athena’s first name is of Greek origin – much like Beatrice’s late grandfather Prince Phillip – and her middle name is an obvious nod to the late Queen Elizabeth II.

It seems to be tradition for royal cousins Peter Phillips, 47, Zara Tindall, 43, Prince William, 42, Prince Harry, 40, Princess Beatrice, 36, and Princess Eugenie, 34, to include a tribute to their grandparents in the names of at least one of their children.

For Beatrice, the gorgeous name Athena points to her late grandfather as it holds ‘significant historical and cultural importance’ in Greece.

It is derived from Greek mythology as Athena was the Goddess of Wisdom and War.

‘She was revered for her strategic prowess, intelligence, and skill in warfare,’ Ancestry writes. ‘As the patron deity of Athens, Athena played a central role in shaping Greek society and mythological narratives.

‘The name itself is derived from the Greek word “athenaios”, meaning wise or intelligent, reflecting the virtues and qualities associated with the goddess.’

It adds: ‘The name Athena continues to evoke a sense of wisdom, strength, and courage.’

Athena shares the middle name – Elizabeth – with her older sister Sienna, three, a tribute to Beatrice’s beloved grandmother.

Upon the death of the queen, Beatrice and her sister Princess Eugenie released a heartwarming statement which said: ‘You were our matriarch, our guide, our loving hand on our backs leading us through this world. You taught us so much and we will cherish those lessons and memories forever.’

They added: ‘It has been the honour of our lives to have been your granddaughters and we’re so very proud of you.’

And what better way to pay tribute to their ‘matriarch’, ‘guide’ and ‘loving hand’ than naming a child in her honour.

Also taking the middle name Elizabeth is Isla Phillips, 12, youngest daughter of Peter Phillips and August Kelly, as well as Lena Tindall, six, youngest daughter of Zara and Mike Tindall.

Their cousin Prince William also made sure to pay tribute to the late queen, and his beloved mother, in the naming of his only daughter Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.

Royal fans have pointed out that as well as sharing a name with the late Queen Elizabeth, Charlotte, nine, is a spitting image of the adored monarch.

Although he is settled down in California with his wife Meghan Markle, Prince Harry’s daughter Princess Lilibet Diana, three, is also named for the late queen.

Lilibet refers to the Queen’s nickname within the royal family, as she could not pronounce her name correctly as a toddler.

Her parents King George VI, the Queen Mother and her sister, Princess Margaret, would affectionately call her ‘Lilibet’ as a way of copying her attempts to say ‘Elizabeth’.

Mail writer Robert Hardman reported in his biography Charles III: New King, New Court that the Queen was furious when the Sussexes announced that she had given them her blessing to call their baby daughter Lilibet.

Meanwhile, the royal cousins paid tribute to their grandfather Prince Phillip in the naming of their boys. 

Princess Anne’s youngest grandchild Lucas Tindall, three, has the middle name Phillip.

His name honours both his maternal great-grandfather Prince Phillip and his paternal grandfather – as Phillip is the name of Mike Tindall’s father.

Princess Eugenie made sure to follow the same tradition when naming her first son August, lovingly known as Augie.

At the time of Augie’s birth in 2021, Prince Phillip had been admitted to hospital.

Sadly, he passed away only a few months later – when August was just two months old.

So it was a poignant time for Eugenie to confirm that August Phillip Hawke Brooksbank, three, is named after his great-grandfather Prince Phillip as well as ‘both of his great 5x grandfathers’.

Although it may not be as obvious, the name of Eugenie’s youngest son Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank, one, also has royal connections.

After his birth, Eugenie confirmed on Instagram: ‘He is named after his great great great Grandfather George, his Grandpa George and my Grandpa Ronald.’ 

Ernest’s triple-great grandfather, of course, is King George V and it is a double homage as Jack Brooksbank’s father is also named George. 

But it is not just the royal children who are named after the late Queen Elizabeth and her loving husband Prince Phillip.

King Charles’ full name is Charles Phillip Arthur George and William’s is William Arthur Phillip Louis.

Anne, Princess Royal was christened Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise. 

Often, the closer you are to the throne, the more traditional a name you take. Additionally, none of Queen Elizabeth’s grandchildren have any less than three names, giving them a choice of monikers if they were to ascend to the throne.