Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi's youngest daughter, Athena, reaches her first birthday today.
The royal's christening took place last month at the Chapel Royal in St James's Palace, drawing an intimate gathering of aristocrats, musicians and influential figures from the philanthropic world.
Following the private ceremony, attendees continued celebrations at a nearby pub, marking a notably understated approach compared to the grand christenings typically associated with royal infants.
The occasion brought together some of the couple's closest friends and family members for what proved to be a significant event.
Athena Mapelli Mozzi celebrates first birthday as Beatrice and Edoardo mark milestone year
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Among those attending were singer-songwriter James Blunt and his wife, Sofia Wellesley, longstanding friends of both Beatrice and her sister Princess Eugenie.
Princess Nina of Greece and Denmark, accompanied by her husband Prince Philippos, the youngest son of the late King Constantine II, also joined the celebration, with Nina and Beatrice having maintained a friendship spanning more than a decade.
Lohralee Astor, wife of the Hon. William Astor, arrived looking elegant alongside her family, their presence reflecting the close bond they share with Beatrice and Edoardo.
Philanthropists Simon and Carolyn Franks were also spotted, with Princess Beatrice serving on the board of their family foundation.
Baby Athena was born on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, just minutes before 1pm | PAThe christening carried particular significance as it marked the first public appearance for Beatrice's parents, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson, since being stripped of their Duke and Duchess of York titles following the Jeffrey Epstein scandal fallout.
While royal christenings typically involve considerable ceremony and fanfare, as witnessed at similar events for Prince George and Prince Louis at the same chapel, the controversy surrounding the York family lent this gathering a somewhat uneasy atmosphere.
Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank were prominently present, appearing every bit the devoted aunt and uncle as they arrived for the service.
James Blunt among celebrity guests at Princess Beatrice's daughter's christening | REUTERSLATEST ROYAL NEWS:
Jack Brooksbank, Princess Eugenie's husband, arriving at the christening | REUTERSAthena is the youngest of three children in the household, joining older sister Sienna, born in 2021, and nine-year-old Wolfie, Edoardo's son from his previous relationship with architect Dara Huang.
The past year has presented challenges for the family, with Princess Beatrice giving birth prematurely, an experience she later described as isolating.
At the time of Athena's arrival, Edoardo shared a touching message on Instagram, describing his newborn as "tiny and absolutely perfect" and expressing that the entire family, including Wolfie and Sienna, were "completely besotted" with her.