Lady Louise is the daughter of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex. She was born on November 8, 2003, and is the youngest niece of King Charles III. She has an older brother, James, Earl of Wessex.
Lady Louise is currently 15th in the line of succession to the British throne, and although she is entitled to the style of Princess as the daughter of an Earl, her parents have chosen to use the title of Lady for her instead.
Lady Louise has accompanied her parents on several official engagements, including attending the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony in London. She is also an accomplished horseback rider and has competed in various equestrian events.
Lady Louise attending St Andrews University to study English - following in the footsteps of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who met at the university in Fife, Scotland, where Kate was studying history of art and William geography.
Lady Louise Windsor and her mother, the Countess of Wessex (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
St Andrews is one of the country’s top universities, with standard entry grades set at AAA and minimum entry grades of ABB for the English MA.
Louise and her younger brother James – whose title is the Earl of Wessex – will be expected to work for a living and are unlikely to use HRH styles as adults.
In an interview with the Sunday Times in 2020, the countess revealed: “We try to bring them up with the understanding that they are very likely to have to work for a living.
“Hence we made the decision not to use HRH titles. They have them and can decide to use them from 18, but I think it’s highly unlikely.”
Lady Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor was born prematurely in November 2003, weighing just 4lb 9oz.
The Earl and Countess of Wessex with their baby daughter in November 2003 (Johnny Green/PA)
At eight months pregnant, Sophie was rushed to hospital with severe internal pains, and doctors found she was dangerously ill from blood loss and performed an emergency Caesarean.
Newborn Lady Louise was transferred to St George’s Hospital in Tooting, London, for specialist care, while the countess remained at Frimley Park Hospital near their home in Bagshot Park. They were separated for six days.
The Queen’s second-youngest grandchild was a bridesmaid at William and Kate’s wedding in 2011, and was a special attendant at Princess Eugenie’s wedding in 2018, helping to escort the young bridesmaids and pageboys into the church.
She occasionally accompanies her parents at events, and attends royal celebrations such as Trooping the Colour, and was present at the Platinum Jubilee festivities.
Lady Louise underwent successful surgery a few years ago to correct an eye condition.
Prince Harry waves to the crowds with Louise after the Cambridges’ wedding (Steve Parsons/PA)
The teenager has also started competing at carriage driving, following in the footsteps of her late grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh.
Throughout her childhood, she has seen a good deal of the Queen, to whom she bears a strong resemblance at the same age.
As the daughter of the son of the sovereign, Lady Louise, who is 15th in line to the throne, is entitled to be known as Princess Louise.
But the earl and countess decided against this, choosing the courtesy titles of a child of an earl for their daughter and son instead.
