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She may be one of the lesser known members of the most famous family in Britain, but Lady Louise Windsor will have the spotlight thrust firmly upon her when she turns 18 next week.
The teenage royal is the elder child of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, and the second youngest of the Queen’s grandchildren.
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On this milestone birthday, Lady Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor, to give her her full name, may choose to become Princess Louise, as per her entitlement as the daughter of the Queen’s son.
There has already been much speculation over whether she will make the life-changing decision (her mother stated in 2020 that Louise retained her royal title and would make a choice on whether to be styled HRH when she reached the age of 18) and also about the new royal duties she may be given responsibility for as she comes of age on November 8.
(Image: PA)
From living pretty much out of the public eye – though she is said to be a popular member of The Firm and a treasured grandchild of the Queen – Lady Louise could see her profile skyrocket over the coming months.
She was recently dubbed “the Royal Family’s secret weapon” after charming viewers with her delightful recollections of the late Duke of Edinburgh in a BBC documentary about him, with royal watchers saying they wanted to see more of the engaging young woman at official occasions.
She should have many opportunities in coming months to practise her winning smile – Lady Louise already receives more Google searches per month regarding her smile than the Queen – and like a number of her cousins had braces fitted to straighten her teeth.
It is thought the young royal may be in line for roles that Prince Harry can no longer fulfil since his emigration to the US last year with his wife Meghan Markle.
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Counsellor of State is understood to be one of the last remaining duties that he will be stripped of; Lady Louise could thus be only days away from replacing her older cousin the Duke of Sussex in the role, which would see her standing in for the Queen should the monarch not be able to attend a public engagement.
Lady Louise arrived prematurely at Frimley Park Hospital, Surrey, her father Prince Edward not being able to attend the sudden birth as he was on an official visit to Mauritius at the time. Her name was announced 19 days later, after she was well enough to be discharged from the neo-natal unit at St George’s Hospital, Tooting.
She was born with a rare eye condition, estropia, and an unsuccessful attempt to correct the problem in 2006 was followed by further, successful, treatment in 2013.
(Image: Getty Images)
Lady Louise was seven when she was a bridesmaid for Prince William and Catherine Middleton, in 2011.
Four years later, she joined her brother James in their first overseas engagement, accompanying their parents on a visit to South Africa.
At the age of 14, Lady Louise was a special attendant at the wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank.
(Image: BBC)
To celebrate Lady Louise’s 15th birthday, in November 2018, mother and daughter made a cameo appearance on Strictly Come Dancing as they joined the audience for the popular BBC TV show.
A Girl Guider and keen horsewoman, Lady Louise has taken up carriage driving, a sport popularised in this country by her late grandfather, Prince Philip, inheriting the Duke’s driving ponies and carriage following his death.
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