Paul McCartney Became Father to Child Who Was 'A Kind of Miracle' whom He Raised Without Nanny

• Sir Paul McCartney is a music icon who has a special bond with his youngest daughter, Beatrice.
• Her birth was a "kind of miracle" for him and his ex-wife Heather Mills, who lost a limb when she was 25.
• McCartney raised his daughter without a nanny and kept her away from the limelight.

Sir Paul McCartney, the iconic musician with a career that spans several decades, is not only celebrated for his unmatched contributions to music but also for his role as a devoted father. Among the many milestones in his life, the birth of his daughter is a significant chapter that came as a surprise for both McCartney and his then-wife Heather Mills.

Their daughter's arrival came under unique circumstances, marking a tender milestone in their lives as McCartney already had adult children and Mills believed it was unlikely she would ever bear a child. Despite his age and fame, McCartney's approach to fatherhood with his youngest child was remarkably down-to-earth.

Mills, a model-turned-activist, met McCartney through her activism. Her modeling career began when she was 18 and over time, she evolved into an activist, moved by the violence she witnessed in Yugoslavia. Upon her return to England, she founded the Slovenian Crisis Centre.

In 1992, she took part in a relief convoy to Croatia. By August 1993, she had returned to live in London. She had been dating a new boyfriend but had decided to end the relationship. On the day she planned to break up with him, they went for a walk in Kensington Gardens.

They heard sirens in the distance, and two police officers on motorbikes zoomed past them, responding to an emergency call in Knightsbridge. After they had passed, Mills stepped off the curb to cross the road. Unaware of a third police bike speeding towards her, she was hit directly and carried 25 meters down the road.

Her leg had gotten caught by the bike's exhaust pipe and had been ripped off. She also suffered severe internal injuries, including multiple fractures of her pelvis.

Her injured leg was amputated six inches below the knee, and at just 25, her modeling career seemed to have come to an end. She was also informed that she was unlikely to ever have children. But Mills did not let this accident define her life, and ironically, the press played a significant role in making that possible.

Her accident made front-page news, and she became known as the brave Page 3 girl. She declined a disability allowance, was filmed returning to the ski slopes, and established a charity to aid other amputees, including those injured in the Omagh bombing. Recalling that period, Mills stated, "There was never a bad word written about me."

She was featured on various programs. Mills first encountered McCartney when they both presented awards on a television show in 1999. They did not interact further, but she had caught McCartney's eye.

He contacted her later, expressing his wish to contribute to her charity, and subsequently gave her a substantial cheque. Within months, they became a couple. Mills described McCartney as incredibly charming and the most romantic man she had ever met.

Some might suggest that McCartney was still in the throes of grief over the loss of his first wife when he encountered Mills. The two exchanged vows in 2002, in Ireland. On the eve of their nuptials, a news channel broadcasted a documentary that cast her in a critical light.

Soon after, a newspaper erroneously reported that she was under scrutiny by the Charity Commission for alleged misappropriation of funds. It didn’t take long for jokes about her disability to circulate on the internet, and rumors began to spread that she had influenced McCartney to alter his hair color and social circle.

Mills expressed bewilderment at these developments. She conjectured that the animosity stemmed from her marriage to a national icon. She felt that the press, which had once elevated her, was now intent on tearing her down.

In a subsequent interview, Mills addressed her rumored pregnancy, expressing profound hurt given her medical history of uterine cancer and two ectopic pregnancies. She underscored the difficulty many women face when constantly questioned about having a baby, especially when the world seems to be incessantly speculating about her pregnancy.

When asked about the influence of McCartney's former wife, Linda McCartney, on her life, Mills denied ever feeling overshadowed by her. She emphasized her deep respect for McCartney's previous marriage to Linda, lauding Linda's positive influence on McCartney.

Mills spoke at length about Linda, stating that she never felt jealousy towards her and that her admiration for her grew the more she learned about her. She acknowledged that Linda faced a more challenging time with the press when she first embarked on her relationship with McCartney.

She confessed that she wasn’t aware of this initially as she was never a Beatles fan. She fell for McCartney after he pursued her for a while, describing him as charming, wooing, and fantastic. However, she admitted that coping with the fame that accompanies McCartney was challenging.

Mills eventually became pregnant. She later expressed, "I thought that I'd never be able to have a child of my own … getting pregnant was a kind of miracle." However, even the joy of having a daughter couldn't alleviate the escalating hostility from the press.

The child Beatrice Milly McCartney was named after Mills' mother, but some journalists suggested she had copied the name from Princess Beatrice. Mills was also accused of influencing McCartney's attempt to alter the order of songwriting credits in the Beatles' catalog.

It later emerged that this was a long-standing goal of McCartney's, dating back to 1976. Eventually, the singer issued an open letter to the press, refuting many of the allegations against his then-wife. However, by this time, their marriage was already grappling with significant challenges and they eventually parted ways.

In 2009, McCartney portrayed himself as an engaged father who, despite a hectic schedule, devoted his days to his daughter Beatrice. He also dismissed assertions that he was weary from caring for the then-five-year-old. He professed his love for fatherhood, adding, "I don't have a nanny I do all the regular stuff myself."

His typical morning routine involved rising early, preparing breakfast, getting Beatrice ready, and watching some TV. He took her to school, interacted with all the mothers, conversed with the teacher, and then picked her up from school.

He asserted that he treasured every moment of it and despite people questioning his early mornings, he genuinely relished it. He found raising a young child to be exhilarating and enlightening. He acknowledged, "I am a different dad now but it's good."

In a 2016 interview, Mills discussed her efforts to shield her child from the celebrity lifestyle. She expressed pride in having deliberately shielded her daughter from the public eye, ensuring she didn't engage in celebrity lifestyles or appear in public places where celebrities often congregate.

In a prior interview, she indicated her reluctance to discuss her marriage to McCartney, especially if she had nothing positive to say. She expressed pride in never speaking ill of the other parent to their child, resulting in a healthy, happy, and open child.

She believed her daughter Beatrice inherited the best traits of both parents as they are both very musical. Mills taught her the saxophone and languages, while Beatrice's talent for poetry likely came from McCartney. Mills shared that her daughter wasn't interested in being a pop artist, stating, "She wants to become a marine biologist."

She also revealed the positive impact that Beatrice had in her life, stating that if she hadn’t had her during the difficult times, she might have taken drastic measures, but she had to consider her daughter. "My daughter and I have a wonderful life together," she said. Mills described her daughter as a unique, intelligent, and grounded child who worked hard at school.

She spends a lot of time with her father in England and enjoys total freedom when they are in Austria. Mills takes pride in never speaking negatively about her daughter’s father to her, maintaining a healthy image of her parents. When McCartney married his second wife in 2011, Beatrice, who was seven at the time, served as the flower girl.