Amid conversations about a “slimmed-down monarchy,” one name that is quietly emerging as a potential asset for Prince William is Lady Louise Windsor, according to a royal commentator. Lady Louise, daughter of Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie, however, has grown up largely away from the glare of the spotlight, enjoying a relatively normal upbringing compared to other royals.
Daily Mail’s Christopher Wilson writes Prince William is “running out of royals” to help with engagements, since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down as working royals in 2020 and he needs to look at other options.
Commenting on the presence of fewer visible working royals, Mr Wilson, writes: “That leaves dark-horse contender Lady Louise Windsor, 21, who charms all who meet her and could be a decorative and useful asset to the royal team. But her mother Sophie, vastly protective of her daughter, is just as likely to want her to stay out of the spotlight.”
Speaking of Prince Edward’s youngest child, the journalist writes: “Of Louise’s brother James, 17, little is known of his character and personality or whether he’d wish to serve as a front rank royal – even if William wished it. Currently he’s a pupil at Radley, the Berkshire public school.”
The journalist further infers William could face a crisis as “public demand for the attendance of a royal to mark major and minor events up and down the country remains as high as ever”.
Lady Louise Windsor’s behaviour during these events, such as attending Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral with dignity and composure, suggests a deep respect for royal tradition, alongside an understanding of the monarchy’s evolving role.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have been deliberate about keeping their two children out of the limelight, providing them with a “normal” upbringing, despite royal lineages.
While Louise and James are legally entitled to use the title of His or Her Royal Highness due to their royal status as grandchilden of Queen Elizabeth II, the parents chose to avoid the title, hoping it would enable them to live a more normal life.
Duchess Sophie added in a 2020 interview with The Times: “We try to bring them up with the understanding they are very likely to have to work for a living. Hence we made the decision not to use HRH titles.”
At the moment, Louise, is studying at St Andrews University in Scotland, the same university where Prince William and Princess Kate met.