Princess Beatrice shares emotional insight into having a premature birth - 'Can be incredibly lonely'

The princess's daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose, was born several weeks premature on January 22.

Beatrice said: "I think so often, especially us mums, we spend our lives feeling like we have to be perfect to do this.

"And sometimes, when you are faced with that moment of learning that your baby's going to come a bit early, it can be incredibly lonely.

"Even now, talking to some of the mums who know about my work with Borne, they feel this sense of life-changing relief that can come with knowing that there is an organisation there that is supporting the research and supporting the questions, and asking some of these important questions."

The princess visited the charity's medical research facilities at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London as part of the Every Week Counts campaign.

Professor Mark Johnson and Borne ambassador and meteorologist Laura Tobin are also pledging their support.

Beatrice said she hopes the campaign will "bring as many people who have had their own stories, to come and share them", adding: "Then maybe we can learn from each other."

The princess continued: "My favourite thing about being a mum is the fact that it's a secret, you know, it almost feels like a secret club of sharing stories.

"And I love the fact that Borne is there to support them [mothers] when they're going through something incredibly traumatic, and how can we make sure that phenomenal data, great tools, great doctors, have everything at their disposal so that no mum can feel alone."

Some 60,000 babies are born prematurely in the UK every year, making up one in 13 births.

Across the world, 15 million babies are born early, and complications from prematurity remain the leading cause of neonatal death and lifelong disability, according to Borne.

However, pregnancy and childbirth receive less than two per cent of medical research funding, the charity added.

Beatrice said: "I was really quite shocked to learn that we really do not have as much data with women's health, with pregnant women's health.

"So I was really passionate about high-quality data being able to enrich the medical field."

The princess continued: "I think the key thing is that all the scientists that we've approached to be part of the Borne collaborative have said: look, alone, we are making no progress, but with Borne helping us to work together, we will make a difference.

"We will change what is going on in the hospitals every day, all around the world."

During Monday's laboratory tour, she said: "The work that Borne is undertaking is something that is incredibly close and personal to me following the early arrival of my second daughter.

"Today's visit was not only insightful but has given me so much hope for pregnant mothers in the UK that this topic is being taken incredibly seriously. As a patron of Borne, I am so grateful for the scientists and clinicians who took the time today to show me the advances they are making to reduce the risks to expectant mums and babies."

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