Prince William was all smiles during a royal engagement on Wednesday, January 29 — the same day Princess Beatrice announced the birth of her second child, Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi.
The Prince of Wales spent the day in Guildford, visiting NatureMetrics as part of his work with The Earthshot Prize. The UK-based environmental company, a 2024 finalist in the “Protect & Restore Nature” category, helps businesses track their impact on ecosystems.
But while William was focused on sustainability efforts, his cousin Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, were quietly celebrating a more personal milestone — the early arrival of their daughter.
During his visit, William joined schoolchildren for a hands-on demonstration of environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling, which involved extracting water samples from a lake.
As he filled a syringe with water, someone pointed out that he could aim it at the waiting press. William didn’t miss a beat, laughing as he declared, “This is like the best day of my life.”
During the tour, William also toured NatureMetrics’ labs, met with science communicator Big Manny, and learned about the company’s efforts to make environmental solutions more accessible to younger generations.
Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace announced the birth of Athena Elizabeth Rose, who arrived prematurely at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital on Wednesday, January 22 at 12:57 p.m.
The Palace shared that Beatrice and Edoardo were “delighted” by their daughter’s safe arrival.
The Prince and Princess of Wales reacted to the happy news by “liking” the post.
