Why isn’t Prince Edward’s daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, a princess? – Lady Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor, born 8 November 2003, is the eldest child and only daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.
She is the granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and the niece of King Charles III. Since May 2023, she has been 15th in line to the British throne.
Lady Louise was born prematurely at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey. Her mother, then known as the Countess of Wessex, was rushed to hospital from her Bagshot Park residence, while her father, Prince Edward, then Earl of Wessex, was on an official visit to Mauritius and was unable to attend the birth.
Due to complications including placental abruption, mother and child suffered significant blood loss and Lady Louise was delivered by emergency cesarean section. As a precaution, she was transferred to a neonatal ward at St George’s Hospital in London while her mother recovered at Frimley Park until she was discharged on 23 November 2003. Her name, Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary, was announced on November 27.
Lady Louise was baptized on 24 April 2004 in the private chapel at Windsor Castle, with David Conner, Dean of Windsor, presiding over the ceremony. His godfathers included Lady Sarah Chatto, Lord Ivar Mountbatten, Lady Alexandra Etherington, Francesca Schwarzenbach and Rupert Elliott. She was the last child to be christened in the original royal christening gown.
Lady Louise was born with a condition called esotropia and underwent unsuccessful surgery to correct it in 2006. However, in late 2013 she received effective treatment which resolved the problem.
Lady Louise Windsor initially attended St. George’s School, Windsor Castle, and in 2017 moved to St. Mary’s School Ascot from year 9. For her A-level studies, she chose English, history, politics and drama.
At school, Lady Louise Windsor took an active part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s awards scheme. In September 2022, Lady Louise began studying English at the University of St Andrews. In the summer of 2022, it was reported that she worked at a garden center.
Why isn’t Prince Edward’s daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, a princess?
Lady Louise Windsor, Prince Edward’s daughter, was not given the title princess due to the historical practice of privileging male over female heirs. This tradition, known as primogeniture, sees title and inheritance passed to the eldest son rather than the eldest child.
Although the royal family changed the primogeniture system in 2013 with the Succession to the Crown Act, removing preference for male heirs, this change does not apply retroactively to Prince Edward’s children. Since Lady Louise and her brother were born before the law change, they are not affected by the updated inheritance rules.