Princess Beatrice’s father in law explains why all her children will be royal but not Eugenie’s

 

Unique Heritage Grants Princess Beatrice’s Children Titles Over Their Cousins

While both Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are daughters of a Duke and granddaughters of the late Queen, a unique distinction in their husbands’ backgrounds means that Beatrice’s children carry noble titles that Eugenie’s do not.

With the recent news of Princess Eugenie’s third pregnancy, royal observers have revisited why her sons, August and Ernest, are styled as "Master," while Beatrice’s daughters, Sienna and Athena, hold the titles of "Countess" and "Nobile Donna."

The Italian Connection

The difference lies not in British royal protocol, but in the aristocratic lineage of Beatrice’s husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.   Edoardo is an Italian Count, a title that dates back centuries within his family.

• Aristocratic Inheritance: According to Edoardo's father, Count Alessandro Mapelli Mozzi, the titles pass down through the male line.    As Edoardo is the only male descendant to carry the family into the next generation, his wife automatically became a Contessa (Countess) upon their marriage in 2020.

• Titles for the Children: Alessandro explained that all of Edoardo’s children—including Beatrice’s daughters and his son from a previous relationship, Wolfie—inherit noble status.   Under Italian tradition, their daughters are born with the title of Nobile Donna (Noble Woman).

Why Eugenie’s Children Are "Commoners"

In contrast, Princess Eugenie’s husband, Jack Brooksbank, did not receive a title or a peerage from the Crown when the couple married in 2018.

• British Royal Rule: In the UK, royal titles typically pass through the male line.   Because Jack remains a private citizen without a title, his children take his rank.

• The "Grandchildren" Rule: Neither Beatrice nor Eugenie’s children are entitled to British "Prince" or "Princess" titles because they are the grandchildren of a sovereign's son (Prince Andrew), rather than the sovereign themselves. Under current rules, only the children of the monarch, the children of the monarch's sons, and the children of the Prince of Wales hold HRH status.

A Legacy of 1,000 Years

The Mapelli Mozzi family recently celebrated 1,000 years of documented history. Count Alessandro noted that they are one of the few families in Italy to have unbroken archives dating back to the 10th century.   While these titles are not officially recognized by the British state, they are used as a matter of social courtesy and international tradition.

"Edoardo is the only male descendant taking the family into the next generation... his wife is a countess automatically, and any of their children will be counts or nobile donna." — Count Alessandro Mapelli Mozzi

As the York sisters continue to raise their families, this distinction ensures that Beatrice’s children will always carry a link to their father’s ancient Italian heritage, even as they remain private citizens within the British system.