Lady Louise Windsor

{{short description|Member of the British royal family (born 2003)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor

| image = Lady Louise, 2017.jpg

| caption = Lady Louise in 2017

| birth_name = Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2003|11|08|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Frimley Park Hospital, Surrey, England

| education = St George's School, Windsor Castle
St Mary's School Ascot

| alma_mater = University of St Andrews (currently attending)

| occupation =

| father = Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh

| mother = Sophie Rhys-Jones

| family = House of Windsor

}}

Lady Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor (born 8 November 2003) is the elder child and only daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. She is the youngest niece of King Charles III. She was born during the reign of her paternal grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, at which time she was 8th in line to the British throne. She is currently 17th in line, below her younger brother, James, Earl of Wessex.

Birth and baptism

Louise was born prematurely on 8 November 2003 at 23:32 GMT at Frimley Park Hospital in Frimley, Surrey, after her mother, Sophie, who was then Countess of Wessex, was rushed there by ambulance from their home at Bagshot Park, Surrey. Louise's father, Prince Edward, then Earl of Wessex, was not present for the birth because it occurred suddenly and while he was on an official visit to Mauritius.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/8/newsid_3724000/3724342.stm |title=Royal baby born prematurely |work=BBC News |date=8 November 2003 |access-date=11 May 2010}} Louise was delivered by emergency Caesarean section due to placental abruption, which caused severe blood loss to both child and mother. Louise was transferred to a neo-natal unit in St George's Hospital, Tooting, London, as a precaution. Meanwhile, her mother remained at Frimley Park until she was well enough to be discharged, on 23 November 2003. Her name, Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary, was announced on 27 November.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3240966.stm |title=Royal Wessex baby finally named |work=BBC News |date=27 November 2003 |access-date=7 May 2010}}

Lady Louise was baptised in the Private Chapel of Windsor Castle on 24 April 2004 by David Conner, the Dean of Windsor; her godparents are Lady Sarah Chatto, Lord Ivar Mountbatten, Lady Alexandra Etherington, Francesca Schwarzenbach and Rupert Elliott.{{cite web |url=https://www.royal.uk/announcement-christening-lady-louise-windsor |title=Announcement of the christening of Lady Louise Windsor |publisher=royal.uk |access-date=8 April 2004 |date=7 April 2004}} Louise was the last child to wear the original royal christening gown.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/prince-george/10975852/Prince-Georges-christening-gown-the-true-story.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/prince-george/10975852/Prince-Georges-christening-gown-the-true-story.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Prince George's christening gown: the true story |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=19 July 2014 |date=19 July 2014 |last1=Ranscombe |first1=Siân}}{{cbignore}}

Born with esotropia, Louise underwent an operation in 2006 in an unsuccessful attempt to correct the condition.{{cite web |url=http://www.debretts.com/people/royal-family/royal-portraits/louise-windsor.aspx |title=Lady Louise Windsor |publisher=Debrett's |access-date=2 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717050159/http://www.debretts.com/people/royal-family/royal-portraits/louise-windsor.aspx |archive-date=17 July 2011 }} She had further treatment in late 2013 that corrected her eyes.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/10570166/Prince-Edwards-daughter-has-successful-operation-to-correct-squint.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/10570166/Prince-Edwards-daughter-has-successful-operation-to-correct-squint.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Prince Edward's daughter has successful operation to correct squint |date=14 January 2014 |work=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}

Education

Louise attended St George's School, Windsor Castle before moving to St Mary's School Ascot in 2017 from Year 9. She chose English, history, politics and drama as her A-Level subjects.{{cite web|url=https://www.tatler.com/article/lady-louise-windsor-cancelled-a-levels-queens-granddaughter|title=Lady Louise Windsor among teenagers hit by A-level cancellations|work=Tatler|date=7 January 2021|accessdate=7 Jan 2021}} While attending school, she took part in The Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Lady Louise started studying English at the University of St Andrews in September 2022.{{cite web | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2022/08/18/lady-louise-windsor-read-english-st-andrews-following-a-level/ | title=Lady Louise Windsor to read English at St Andrews following A-level success | work=The Telegraph | first=Victoria | last=Ward | date=18 August 2022 | accessdate=19 August 2022}} In August 2022, it was reported that she had been working at a garden centre over the summer.{{cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/queens-granddaughter-lady-louise-windsor-is-working-in-a-garden-centre-for-11-an-hour/7CS6L2E7GQKWAHYAL645552N7I/|title=Queen's granddaughter Lady Louise Windsor is working in a garden centre for $11 an hour|work=The New Zealand Herald|date=19 August 2022|accessdate=3 September 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/royal-family/queen-s-granddaughter-lady-louise-windsor-b2148404.html|title=Queen's granddaughter Lady Louise Windsor 'earns minimum wage working at garden centre'|work=The Independent|first=Emily|last=Atkinson|date=19 August 2022|accessdate=4 September 2022}}

Military training

In 2024, she joined the British Army's University Officers' Training Corps (UOTC) unit, Tayforth UOTC, an Army Reserve unit which is made up of members studying at the University of St Andrews and other institutions in the surrounding region.{{cite news |last1=Bannerman |first1=Lucy |title=Lady Louise Windsor follows in her grandmother's military footsteps |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/royal-family/article/lady-louise-windsor-follows-in-her-grandmothers-military-footsteps-6wltlpx96 |access-date=21 January 2025 |work=The Times |date=21 January 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250121173726/https://www.thetimes.com/uk/royal-family/article/lady-louise-windsor-follows-in-her-grandmothers-military-footsteps-6wltlpx96 |archive-date=21 January 2025}}{{Cite news |last=McArdle |first=Tom |date=2025-01-20 |title=Lady Louise 'keen on military career' after joining officer training corps |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2025/01/20/lady-louise-windsor-queen-elizabeth-officers-training-corps/ |access-date=2025-02-12 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}} As of 2025 she holds the rank of Officer Cadet in the Army Reserve.

Official appearances

File:Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor.JPG, June 2013]]

In 2011, aged 7, Louise was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.{{cite web |url=http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/mediacentre/pressreleases/the_wedding_of_hrh_prince_william_of_wales_and_miss_catherin_915779378.html |last=Clarence House |title=An update on Maid of Honour and Bridesmaids, Best Man and Page Boys |date=14 February 2011 |publisher=Queen's Printer |access-date=15 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511212742/http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/mediacentre/pressreleases/the_wedding_of_hrh_prince_william_of_wales_and_miss_catherin_915779378.html |archive-date=11 May 2011 |url-status=dead }}

In August 2018, Louise accompanied her mother, patron of UK Sail Training, to Haslar Marina in Portsmouth Harbour to meet a group of young girls working towards earning their qualification on an entry-level course of the Royal Yachting Association.{{cite web |url=https://www.royal.uk/countess-wessex-visits-haslar-marina |title=The Countess of Wessex visits Haslar Marina|date=6 August 2018 |publisher=The Royal Family |access-date=8 August 2018}} In the same month, mother and daughter attended the final of the Hockey Women's World Cup in London. The Duchess is the patron of England Hockey.{{cite web |url=http://royalcentral.co.uk/uk/wessexes/the-countess-of-wessex-and-lady-louise-windsor-attend-hockey-world-cup-final-in-london-106943 |title=The Countess of Wessex and Lady Louise Windsor attend Hockey World Cup Final in London |date=5 August 2018

|publisher=Royal Central |access-date=5 August 2018}} To celebrate Louise's 15th birthday in November 2018, mother and daughter made a cameo appearance on Strictly Come Dancing as they watched the popular BBC television show from the audience.{{cite web |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2018120565314/sophie-wessex-lady-louise-reason-strictly-come-dancing-visit/ |title=The real reason why the Countess of Wessex and Lady Louise Windsor visited Strictly Come Dancing |date=5 December 2018 |work=Hello! |access-date=5 December 2018}} Louise accompanied her mother in attending the International Horse Show at Olympia, London, in December 2018.{{cite web |url=https://theworldnews.net/uk-news/sophie-wessex-and-lady-louise-windsor-attend-international-horse-show-together-in-london |title=Sophie Wessex and Lady Louise Windsor attend International Horse Show together in London |publisher=the world news.net|access-date=22 December 2018}}

In September 2020, Louise participated in the Great British Beach Clean with her family at Southsea Beach, in support of the Marine Conservation Society.{{cite web |last1=Rice |first1=Francesca |title=The Countess of Wessex looks cool and casual in jeans to litter-pick at the beach with her famil |url=https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/news/a34092415/countess-of-wessex-jeans-beach/ |website=Good Housekeeping |date=21 September 2020 |access-date=16 November 2020}}{{cite web |title=Prince Edward and family spend sunny weekend on beach clean |url=https://www.tatler.com/article/prince-edward-countess-of-wessex-lady-louise-windsor-james-viscount-severn-southsea-beach-great-british-beach-clean |website=Tatler |date=21 September 2020 |access-date=16 November 2020}}

File:Coronation of Charles III and Camilla - Coronation Procession (63).jpg

Following the death of her grandfather, Prince Philip, Louise accompanied her parents to a church service at the Royal Chapel of All Saints on 11 April 2021.{{cite news|title=Prince Philip: The Queen says his death has 'left a huge void' - Duke of York|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56710086 |work=BBC News|access-date=11 April 2021}} She also attended his funeral on 17 April 2021.{{cite news |title= Who attended Prince Philip's funeral? |date= 17 April 2021 |work= BBC News |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56765468 |access-date= 7 August 2023 }} In March 2022 Louise attended the memorial service for Prince Philip. She attended Trooping the Colour in June, where she also joined her family on the balcony; the Platinum Jubilee National Service of Thanksgiving;{{Cite web|url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/celebs/platinum-jubilee-royal-fans-cant-24129617|title=Royal fans can't believe how grown up the Queen's youngest grandson looks|first=Seren|last=Hughes|date=2 June 2022|website=MyLondon|accessdate=19 August 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/who-is-at-the-queens-jubilee-service-of-thanksgiving-royal-family-joined-by-harry-meghan-and-politicians-past-and-present-12626991|title=Who was at the Queen's Jubilee service of thanksgiving? Royal family joined by Harry, Meghan and politicians past and present|website=Sky News|first=Samuel|last=Osborne|accessdate=19 August 2022}} and the Platinum Party at the Palace.{{cite web | url=https://www.tatler.com/article/platinum-party-at-the-palace-best-pictures-jubilee-prince-charles-william-the-queen-paddington-bear | title='You laugh with us and cry with us': Prince Charles pays heartfelt tribute to 'mummy' at historic Platinum Party | work=Tatler | first=Hope | last=Coke | date=4 June 2022 | accessdate=19 August 2022 }} Following the death of her grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, on 8 September 2022, Louise stood vigil for 15 minutes at the Queen's coffin at Westminster Hall together with her brother James and six cousins on 17 September.{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/sep/16/eight-of-queens-grandchildren-to-stand-vigil-prince-william-harry | title='Queen's grandchildren to stand vigil beside coffin on Saturday'| work=TheGuardian | date=16 September 2022 | accessdate=16 September 2022 }} On 19 September, she joined other family members at the state funeral.{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/james-viscount-severn-queen-funeral-b2170361.html | title=Queen's youngest grandchild James Viscount Severn, 14, attends funeral with sister | website=Independent.co.uk | date=19 September 2022 }}

On 6 May 2023, Louise attended the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. On 7 May she attended the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle.{{cite web |title=The Coronation of TM The King and Queen Camilla |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001lt2m/the-coronation-of-tm-the-king-and-queen-camilla-the-coronation-concert |website=BBC |access-date=8 May 2023}}

Personal interests

Louise is a member of Girlguiding, of which her grandmother was patron and her mother is president.{{cite web |url=http://guidingmanual.guk.org.uk/supporting_info/roles_in_guiding/national_roles.aspx |title=Roles in Guiding |publisher=The Guide Association |access-date=21 April 2016 |archive-date=9 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809132246/http://guidingmanual.guk.org.uk/supporting_info/roles_in_guiding/national_roles.aspx |url-status=dead }} Her mother was a Brownie and a Guide when she was a child.{{cite web |title=Sophie celebrates 100 years of the Brownies with Lady Louise |url=http://royalcentral.co.uk/wessexes/sophie-celebrates-100-years-of-the-brownies-with-lady-louise-33520 |access-date=2 November 2014 |date=27 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201035030/http://royalcentral.co.uk/wessexes/sophie-celebrates-100-years-of-the-brownies-with-lady-louise-33520 |archive-date=1 December 2017 |url-status=dead}}

Louise was taught to ride at an early age, and joined her father on horseback as part of the Queen's 90th birthday celebrations in Windsor in 2016.{{cite web |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2016051631434/queen-family-birthday-pageant/ |title=The Queen's delight as family take part in birthday pageant |work=Hello! |access-date=16 May 2016 |date=16 May 2016}} She has taken up carriage driving, a sport popularised in Britain by her grandfather, Prince Philip.{{cite web |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2017062640135/lady-louise-windsor-carriage-driving/ |title=Lady Louise Windsor, 13, takes after grandfather Prince Philip carriage driving |work=Hello! |access-date=26 June 2017 |date=26 June 2017}} In May 2017, she was responsible for leading the carriages of the Champagne Laurent-Perrier Meet of the British Driving Society at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.{{cite web |url=http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/lady-louise-queens-grandaughter-royal-windsor-carriage-driving-620806 |title=Queen's granddaughter makes Royal Windsor driving debut |work=Horse & Hound |access-date=17 May 2017 |date=17 May 2017}} In May 2019, Louise took part in the Private Driving Singles carriage drive at the Royal Windsor Horse Show and achieved third place.{{cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/style/1124974/sophie-countess-of-wessex-lady-louise-windsor-children-prince-edward-rhys-jones|title=Sophie, Countess of Wessex cuts casual figure as she supports daughter Lady Louise Windsor|date=9 May 2019|work=Daily Express|access-date=9 May 2019}} She inherited her grandfather's driving ponies and carriage in April 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/20210419111307/lady-louise-windsor-to-inherit-prince-philip-carriage-and-ponies/|title=Lady Louise Windsor to inherit Prince Philip's carriage and two ponies|work=Hello!|date=19 April 2021|accessdate=9 October 2021}} In 2022, she drove one of his carriages in front of the Queen at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2022/05/07/lady-louise-drive-duke-edinburghs-carriage-platinum-jubilee/|title=Lady Louise to drive Duke of Edinburgh's carriage at Platinum Jubilee horse show|work=The Telegraph|first=Hannah|last=Furness|date=7 May 2022|accessdate=8 May 2022}}

Titles, styles, and honours

=Titles and styles=

Louise is styled as "Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor",{{cite web|url=https://www.royal.uk/queens-grandchildren-hold-vigil-westminster-hall|title=The Queen's grandchildren hold a Vigil at Westminster Hall|work=The Royal Family|date=17 September 2022|accessdate=23 February 2023|quote=The Queen's grandchildren, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Sussex, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Viscount Severn, Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, Mr. Peter Phillips, and Mrs. Zara Tindall held a Vigil beside Her Majesty The Queen's coffin at Westminster Hall.}}{{Cite web|title=The Royal Family|website=The Royal Family |url=https://www.royal.uk/sites/default/files/media/annex_d_-_royal_family_14.pdf|access-date=23 February 2023|quote=Members of the Royal Family... Annex D - Royal Family}}{{cite web|url=https://www.royal.uk/succession|title=Succession|work=The Royal Family|accessdate=23 February 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.royal.uk/court-circular?text=Lady%20Louise%20Mountbatten-Windsor&mrf=&date%5Bmin%5D%5Bdate%5D=08/11/2003&date%5Bmax%5D%5Bdate%5D=23/02/2023&id=|title=Court Circular|work=The Royal Family|accessdate=23 February 2023}} although at the time of her birth the palace also used the style "Lady Louise Windsor" in some of its announcements.{{cite web|url=https://www.royal.uk/family-photographs-earl-and-countess-wessex-lady-louise-windsor|title=Family photographs of The Earl and Countess of Wessex with Lady Louise Windsor|work=The Royal Family|date=7 January 2004|accessdate=23 February 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.royal.uk/announcement-christening-lady-louise-windsor|title=Announcement of the christening of Lady Louise Windsor|work=The Royal Family|date=8 April 2004|accessdate=23 February 2023}} At birth, Louise automatically became a princess of the United Kingdom due to letters patent issued in 1917 which assigned princely status and the style of Royal Highness to all children of a monarch's sons.{{London Gazette |issue=30428 |page=13086 |date=14 December 1917 }} However, when her parents married, Elizabeth II, via a Buckingham Palace press release, announced that their children would be styled as the children of an earl, rather than as prince or princess.{{Cite web|date=19 June 1999|website=United Kingdom Government News |title=Title of HRH The Prince Edward|url=http://www.gov-news.org/gov/uk/news/title_of_hrh_the_prince_edward/40309.html|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201141036/http://www.gov-news.org/gov/uk/news/title_of_hrh_the_prince_edward/40309.html |archive-date=1 February 2014 }} In 2020, her mother stated that Louise retained her royal title and style and could make a choice on whether to use it from the age of 18.{{cite web|title=Queen Elizabeth's Grandchildren Will 'Work for a Living' and Won't Use HRH, Says Mom Sophie Wessex|url=https://people.com/royals/queen-elizabeths-grandchildren-will-work-for-a-living-mom-sophie-wessex-says/|access-date=9 June 2020|website=People}}{{Update inline|date=September 2023}}

=Honours=

In June 2008, to recognise a visit by Louise's father to the Canadian province of Manitoba, a lake in the north of the province was named Lake Louise. Louise's brother was similarly honoured by Lake James in the same province.{{cite news |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/story.html?id=fd966f54-9c34-40d9-ba86-e9274cd753db |title=Prince Edward begins Winnipeg visit |date=2 June 2008 |work=The Vancouver Sun |location=Canada |access-date=5 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110415103015/http://www.vancouversun.com/news/story.html?id=fd966f54-9c34-40d9-ba86-e9274cd753db |archive-date=15 April 2011}}