Princess Beatrice just welcomed her second child, with a name steeped in royal history.

Princess Beatrice might be ninth in line to the throne, but her dedication to her royal family has always been strong, right down to the names of her children. 

In exciting news for their growing family, Princess Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, have welcomed a second daughter. 

Buckingham Palace announced the news, noting that the baby was born several weeks prematurely at London's Chelsea and Westminster Hospital on January 22. The little one weighed just 1.95 kilograms. 

Her beaming parents have also announced her name: Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi. 

"She is tiny and absolutely perfect," Mapelli Mozzi said in a post on his personal Instagram page.

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

Little Athena is much loved by her family. Image: Instagram

Buckingham Palace's statement said, "Their majesties the King and Queen and other members of the royal family have all been informed and are delighted with the news."

The princess and her husband released a photograph of their daughter, showing Athena with dark hair, wearing a white long-sleeved garment and wrapped in a pink blanket with her face hidden by her arm.

Beatrice, 36, married property developer Mapelli Mozzi in July 2020, who is descended from Italian nobility and known as a count, though official titles are not recognised in the Italian republic. 

The couple already have one daughter, Sienna, who was born in September 2021.

Mapelli Mozzi also has a son called Wolfie, eight, from a previous relationship.

The meaning of Princess Beatrice's children's names. 

Born back in September 2021, Princess Beatrice's first daughter's name is Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi. 

The middle name is, of course, a tribute to Princess Beatrice's late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, who died the same month Sienna was born. While the couple haven't confirmed it, Sienna could also be a nod to her dad's Italian heritage, as Siena is a location in Tuscany, Italy. 

With the new addition of Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi, royal watchers are reading into the name even further. 

Athena could be in reference to the ancient Greek goddess, who was the goddess of war, handicraft, wisdom and the patroness of Athens. 

If so, little Athena's name is a nod to Princess Beatrice's grandfather's heritage, as Prince Phillip was born in Greece, into the Greek and Danish royal families. 

Elizabeth is once again a reference to Princess Beatrice's late grandmother, and potentially 'Rose' is in reference to the country she calls home, an 'English rose'. 

It's clear either way that Beatrice wanted to christen her girls with names steeped in royal history, and we can't help but wish this happy family many congratulations on their new arrival.

Which royal children have been named after the Queen? 

Baby Athena continues the royal theme of naming babies in tribute to the late Queen, who was the matriarch of the family for so many years. 

Here are some of the royals who also have sentimental names: 

• Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise: Princess Anne is the Queen's first and only daughter, and was given her first name as a middle name. It was also a reference to the Queen's mother, who was also named Elizabeth.

• Sarah Frances Elizabeth: Queen Elizabeth's sister Princess Margaret named her daughter after her sister and mother. She now goes by Lady Sarah Chatto, after marriage. 

• Zara Anne Elizabeth: Princess Anne's daughter with her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips, was named after the late monarch. 

• Beatrice Elizabeth Mary: much like her two daughters, Princess Beatrice shares the name. 

• Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary: the daughter of Prince Edward and his wife Sophie was named after her grandmother. 

• Isla Elizabeth: Princess Anne's son Peter Phillips named his daughter after his grandmother. 

• Charlotte Elizabeth Diana: Princess Catherine's only daughter got the double barrel of two family names, both 'Elizabeth' and 'Diana'. 

• Lena Elizabeth: Following her own naming conventions, Zara Tindall named her daughter after the Queen. 

• Lilibet Diana: Prince Harry's daughter is one of the few to have the Queen's nickname as her first name.

• Sienna Elizabeth and Athena Elizabeth Rose: Both Princess Beatrice's children share the Queen's name. 

  Featured image: Instagram.