THE Queen chatted on a video call today – after revealing her delight at Princess Beatrice’s pregnancy.
Her Majesty, 95, smiled as she held the virtual audience at Windsor Castle via video-link on this afternoon.
Read our Meghan and Harry live blog for the latest updates
The monarch wore pale blue as she spoke to the High Commissioner for Canada, Ralph Goodale.
Images of the discussion were released hours after Beatrice revealed she is pregnant with the Queen’s 12th great-grandchild.
It comes as:
- Prince Harry is ‘desperately trying to convince himself’ he’s happy in the US – but he’s far from it
- Charles was seen beaming on a royal visit to Northern Ireland with wife Camilla
- Kate Middleton reopens the V&A Museum after Covid forced its closure
- US TV presenter Sean Hannity brands Harry the ‘prince of woke’ over his First Amendment comments
- Six in 10 Brits think Harry and Meghan should be stripped of their royal titles or stop using them
The 32-year-old wed multi-millionaire property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in July last year.
A Buckingham Palace statement said today: “Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are very pleased to announce that they are expecting a baby in autumn of this year.
“The Queen has been informed and both families are delighted with the news.”
Beatrice made the announcement on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s anniversary – three years after Meghan famously announced she was expecting baby Archie on the day of Princess Eugenie’s wedding.
Meghan’s declaration was said to have left Eugenie and Sarah Ferguson “furious” and Harry “embarrassed”.
And royal experts say the timing of today’s announcement is no mistake.
Commentator and author Duncan Larcombe told The Celeb Report: “The fact it was Buckingham Palace that made the announcement proves this was not a simple oversight.
“A great deal of care is taken over the timings of major announcements such as Royal pregnancies, and it is extremely unlikely diary staff were unaware of the significance of the day for Harry and Meghan.
“You have a relatively large window of opportunity to announce a pregnancy, an anniversary date is set in stone.”
Despite the timing, the announcement will come as welcome good news following a very difficult few months for the Queen.
Prince Philip died last month, leaving the monarch a widow after 73 years of marriage.
Heartbreakingly, Her Majesty was forced to sit alone at the funeral as a result of Covid restrictions.
And she suffered more sadness weeks later after her new corgi died.
Fergus was one of the pair given to the Queen to cheer her after Prince Philip fell ill.
She was said to be “devastated” when the pup, which was around five-months-old, died at the weekend.
The monarch also told of her sadness after Harry and Meghan’s interview with Oprah aired.
The royal couple stunned their family with a series of shock revelations during their tell-all interview.
But despite months of difficulties, the Queen has continued her royal duties.
Just ten days after her beloved husband’s funeral, she smiled as she held two audiences with the ambassador from the Republic of Latvia, and the ambassador from the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire.
And she then appeared at Parliament earlier this month for the State Opening at the Palace of Westminster.
