The beleaguered Duke of York is yet to return from Scotland to meet his new granddaughter.
It was announced yesterday that his eldest daughter Princess Beatrice has become a mother for the first time, giving birth to a 6lb 2oz baby girl on Saturday.
The news, which comes only seven months after younger daughter Eugenie gave birth to her son August, has already been welcomed by Sarah, Duchess of York.
She is said to have returned from Balmoral on Friday and met her new grandchild over the weekend.
A friend of the duchess told the Mail: 'She's perfect and Sarah is absolutely smitten. She's always very proud of both girls but to have two grandchildren in a year is a total joy.'
The friend smilingly suggested that Beatrice's daughter might even have inherited her mother and grandmother's flame-coloured locks, saying: 'She's got a hint of red... and a hint of gold.'
But it seems that Sarah's troubled former husband has not returned with her.
Prince Andrew bolted back to the Queen's Scottish estate just over a week ago (pictured) – days before the first hearing into a US sex assault claim brought against him by long-term accuser Virginia Roberts
The Duke of York has stayed in Scotland despite his daughter Princess Beatrice (pictured at Wimbledon in July) giving birth to a baby girl on Monday
The beleaguered Duke of York is yet to return from Scotland to meet his new granddaughter. Pictured: His car at Balmoral on Monday. It is not clear if the Duke was in it
Prince Andrew, Virginia Roberts, aged 17, and Ghislaine Maxwell are pictured at Ghislaine Maxwell's townhouse in London, in 2001
In a tweet from her official Twitter account, Beatrice said she was delighted' to 'share the news of the safe arrival' of the couple's daughter, adding: 'Thank you to the midwife team and everyone at the hospital for their wonderful care'
Prince Andrew bolted back to the Queen's Scottish estate just over a week ago – days before the first hearing into a US sex assault claim brought against him by long-term accuser Virginia Roberts.
Andrew, who has repeatedly denied the allegations, is currently in crisis talks about his legal strategy after a disastrous attempt to defer the case by arguing the papers had not been served properly.
The duke is said to be a doting grandfather to August and will undoubtedly be keen to meet his first granddaughter. But sources say they have no idea when he will return to Windsor.
Beatrice, 33, yesterday spoke of her 'delight' at becoming a mother for the first time, thanking London's Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their 'wonderful care'.
And she and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, said they cannot wait to introduce their as yet unnamed baby to half-brother Christopher Woolf – known as Wolfie.
The Queen, the Duke and Duchess of York and Mr Mapelli Mozzi's family are all said to be 'delighted' for the couple.
Eugenie also congratulated her sister, writing on Instagram: '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.'
Princess Eugenie has led the royal family in congratulating her sister Princess Beatrice after she welcomed her first child with husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
Posting on Instagram this afternoon, Eugenie wrote a gushing message to her sister, brother-in-law and their new daughter, calling the newborn 'an angel'
Beatrice, 33, the oldest daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, gave birth to a baby girl weighing 6lbs 2oz at 11.42pm on Saturday at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, in London, Buckingham Palace announced today. Pictured, the couple at Wimbledon in July
A fashionable Beatrice enjoyed two evenings out in a row in Mayfair, last week (pictured left, on Tuesday, and right on Wednesday), shortly before the birth of her baby girl on Saturday
A friend of the family said the Duchess of York returned from Balmoral on Friday and met her new grandchild over the weekend, adding: 'She is absolutely over the moon.'
Chelsea and Westminster is an NHS hospital but houses the private Kensington maternity wing, which charges a starting price of £7,450 for a 'platinum vaginal delivery package' and £9,050 for a 'platinum elective or emergency section package'.
The price includes meals and accommodation for the partner and a private room for the first night post delivery.
Buckingham Palace refused to comment on whether Beatrice was admitted to the Kensington Wing. It is understood she has since been discharged and returned to the St James's Palace apartment she shares with Edo.
The baby, whose name has not yet been revealed, is the Queen's 12th great-grandchild and 11th in line to the throne. Her Majesty is 'delighted with the news', the palace announced in a statement.
Although her mother is a princess, she will not have a royal title. Only grandchildren of the monarch through the male line are automatically entitled to the styling of HRH.
This means she will be Miss Mapelli Mozzi. The Queen could bestow a title on her great-grandchild if desired, but it is unlikely to be asked for.
While Beatrice tends to keep a low profile, she has been seen several times out and about in London over the summer, including attending Wimbledon with Edo, 38, in July.
The new arrival has brought joy to the royal family amid the legal wrangling over the US civil sexual assault lawsuit faced by Prince Andrew.
It was reported yesterday Andrew had left Balmoral to fly to London to see his daughter in hospital however today his car was seen being driven on the estate.
He was at the Queen's Aberdeenshire estate to hold crisis talks with his family and advisers over Miss Roberts's bombshell sex abuse lawsuit after a 'disastrous' week trying to fight the damning allegations.
The baby, whose name has not yet been revealed, is the Queen's 12th great-grandchild and 11th in line to the throne. Her Majesty is 'delighted with the news', the palace announced in a statement (pictured)
Princess Eugenie's baby will be the second grandchild for Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson and is 11th in line to the throne (pictured, the order of succession). The baby is the fourth great-grandchild of the Queen to be born this year, following the arrival of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank's son August in February, Zara and Mike Tindall's son Lucas in March and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's daughter Lilibet in June
It was reported yesterday Prince Andrew could be leaving Balmoral to see Beatrice after she was apparently admitted to a London hospital on Friday
Miss Roberts, now known as Virginia Giuffre, accuses him of sexually abusing her when she was a minor under US law after she was trafficked by billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The duke denies the allegations.
Prince Andrew's legal team have contested whether he has been officially notified about Ms Giuffre's claim for damages.
In a tweet from her official Twitter, Beatrice said she was delighted' to 'share the news of the safe arrival' of the couple's daughter, adding: 'Thank you to the midwife team and everyone at the hospital for their wonderful care.'
Buckingham Palace said in a statement: '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 six pounds and two 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.'
Princess Beatrice enjoys a close relationship with the Queen and wore her grandmother's dress on her wedding to Edoardo in July last year. Pictured, the newlyweds with the Queen and Prince Philip at their Windsor Castle nuptials
