Lady Louise Windsor is Britain’s ‘most down-to-earth royal’: As she’s noticed sitting on a packed prepare flooring, how daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie is ready to turn out to be Firm’s ‘secret weapon’

The sight of a student sat cross-legged on the floor of a packed train carriage with her laptop open is hardly remarkable – until the focused young woman tapping away is revealed to be a member of the royal family. 

Passengers on a 10:30am Great Western Railways service from London to Bristol would never have known that the late Queen’s ‘favourite grandchild’ was amongst them, not least because Lady Louise Windsor was utterly unfazed by her precarious position at people’s feet.

Rather, dressed in jeans with her wispy blonde hair tied back in a ponytail, Prince Edward and Sophie’s eldest child – who is 17th in line to throne – made like any other final year student and simply got on with her work, stopping only to sip her PG Tips.

But while it may surprise some that 22-year-old Louise passed the hour and a half journey sat on a train floor, it is exactly this humble, mature and practical approach to life that has earnt her a reputation as the country’s most ‘down to earth royal’, as commentator Richard Fitzwilliams once called her.

The St Andrews University student’s eagerness to fit in with her peers rather than embrace all the privileges that come with being born a Mountbatten-Windsor stems from her upbringing – Sophie, 60, and Edward, 61, decided that neither Louise nor her brother James, 17, should have an HRH title lest it negatively impact their work ethic. 

And, whether through her extra-curricular activities as a child, her sporting pursuits (she is a skilled carriage driver) or her decision to take a part time job before university, the first cousin of Princes William and Harry has proved herself to be dedicated, disciplined and ambitious. 

Indeed, such traits are hugely valuable amongst royals and have led to the suggestion that Louise might be the Firm’s ‘secret weapon’ in years to come. 

Speaking previously to the Daily Mail, royal author Ingrid Seward said Louise, the late Queen’s youngest granddaughter, has ‘always been an asset’ to the royal family and described her as ‘very polite’. 

Louise has taken on an increasingly public role after her parents became higher profile following the disgrace of Prince Andrew and the departure of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

She was front and centre in the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, joined her parents at the Commonwealth Games and made her successful TV debut in a documentary about her beloved grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh.

She also joined her parents at the King’s coronation, as well as on the Buckingham Palace balcony after the ceremony. 

Louise’s demeanour is, at least in part, a product of her parents Edward and Sophie’s keenness to give their daughter and son James, Earl of Wessex, a ‘normal’ childhood, complete with schoolfriends and extra-curricular activities.

Born with esotropia, a condition that causes the eyes to turn inwards (which was corrected in a 2013 operation), Louise was a pupil at St George’s School, Windsor Castle, before moving to St Mary’s School Ascot from year nine.

Largely kept out of the limelight, her first major royal outing came at the age of nine when she was a bridesmaid at the Prince and Princess of Wales’ 2011 wedding.

Many royal watchers noted her similarity to the late Queen at the same age. 

Yet, as well as the physical similarities she shared with her grandmother, Louise also resembled her grandfather Prince Philip in an important way. Indeed, it was through Philip, who died in April 2021, that she discovered her passion for carriage-driving.

Following his retirement, Philip had more time to enjoy the sport, which had been one of his favourite past-times since the 1970s. He raced carriages near Norfolk before going on to represent Britain at several world and European championships.

Louise’s mother Sophie previously revealed that Prince Philip was ‘so pleased’ when his granddaughter wanted to take up the sport.

‘My father-in-law was always so good at encouraging, he was really encouraging of Louise. So when she not only said “please can I have a go”, but then when she showed a flair for it, he was just brilliant with her,’ she said.

‘They used to chat away about it and he would always turn up if she was competing in the Great Park, he would always turn up to watch her and watch her training days.’

Royal expert Ingrid Seward added in an interview with the Daily Mail: ‘Prince Philip took pleasure in watching Louise compete at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.

‘He would have made sure she had some top-class tuition from one of his grooms and of course the availability of ponies and carriages to drive.’

Louise now takes part in competitions and has driven her grandfather’s ponies as a way to keep his memory alive.  

She was also a Girl Guide as a child, before paying tribute to her grandfather by completing her Duke of Edinburgh award.

Prince Edward commented on how it had made his daughter ‘more confident’.

‘It’s just broadened her horizons. I think she’s probably got a little focused on, especially at the school she is at, just on the academics,’ he said of his daughter, who studied Politics, English, History and Drama at AS Level.

Sophie described her daughter as a ‘committed person’ who spent a lot of time on her bike during lockdown.

‘This is the kind of thing that really ticks the boxes for her. But in terms of confidence, it’s given her a huge amount. She’s taken up fencing again as her skill, which she has really loved,’ she said.

Unlike her older cousins, Princes William and Harry, Louise was able to see a lot more of her grandparents growing up because her parents lived just 11 miles from Windsor and she had the benefit of being born around the time the late Queen and Prince Philip scaled back their long-haul travel.

Louise is currently in the fourth and final year of her English degree at St Andrew’s University, and may take on some royal responsibilities when she graduates.

Her parents are the second youngest pair of senior royals in the Firm and are becoming increasingly popular and high-profile.

And their daughter, who was previously described as Her late Majesty’s ‘favourite’ grandchild, has been dubbed a ‘secret weapon’ for the Firm.

Royal author Ingrid Seward explained Lady Louise, has ‘always been an asset’ to the royal family.

Meanwhile, writing in his Palace Confidential newsletter last year, the Daily Mail’s Diary Editor Richard Eden expressed that contribution from the Duke of Edinburgh and his family ‘has never been more important’.

He wrote: ‘Although way down the line of succession, in 14th place, the Duke of Edinburgh is busier, and more prominent, than ever as he carries out duties while his eldest brother, King Charles, is undergoing treatment for cancer.

‘Edward and his wife, Sophie, are often overlooked because they don’t seem to court attention from the media and appear happy to undertake their numerous royal engagements and foreign visits quietly and without fuss.’

He continued: ‘In my opinion, another great service the couple could do for the country would be to encourage their children, Lady Louise and James, the Earl of Wessex, to become working royals when the time is right.

‘When Prince William becomes King, I hope that he will follow the example of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, and ask his cousins, including Lady Louise and James, to share royal duties with him.

‘Hopefully, William will realise that a “slimmed-down” monarchy wouldn’t safeguard the institution, as some claim, but would lead to its irrelevance and eventual death.

‘What better way to build on its strengths than with an injection of energy from young people who have had values of public service and duty instilled in them from birth?’

Speaking to the Daily Mail, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams noted that William – who has previously expressed his desire to ‘change’ the monarchy – will ‘undoubtedly need extra help if it wants it to continue its charitable activities at a significant level’.

‘William will have appreciated the excellent way the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh support the Firm,’ Mr Fitzwilliams continued.

He added: ‘The signs are surely that with only four working royals currently under 70 and the Waleses’ children still young, that Lady Louise might be persuaded to carry out some royal duties in the future.’

‘It would certainly be in the interest of the monarchy and all of us if she [carried] out royal duties,’ Mr Fitzwilliams mused.

For Mr Fitzwilliams, it is Louise’s down-to-earth nature and her parents’ unwavering support for the Firm through choppy waters that make her the perfect candidate for any future promotion by William.

Despite being cousins with Princes William and Harry and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Louise is understood to use the title ‘Lady’ because she was not made a princess at birth.

This was a deliberate decision by her parents, who reportedly wanted to raise Louise and her younger brother James, Earl of Wessex, ‘with the understanding that they are very likely to have to work for a living’.

This has seemingly resonated with Lady Louise, who even took up a job at her local garden centre before beginning her studies at St Andrew’s University.

According to Mr Fitzwilliams, her study interests were also ‘particularly appropriate’ for a working royal.

‘Her choice of A-level subjects, including history, politics, and drama, seems particularly appropriate, since the first two would obviously be useful for a working royal and royalty is also theatrical,’ he explained.

While Louise has kept a relatively low profile during her time at St Andrew’s university, where the Prince and Princess of Wales previously struck up their relationship, she is always poised and graceful when attending royal events.

Over the years, Mr Fitzwilliams explained, ‘she has attended numerous royal events, appeared on the Buckingham Palace Balcony when her studies permitted and stood vigil by her grandmother’s coffin before the State Funeral, which she also attended’.

Notably, the royal expert pointed out, Louise has honoured the legacy of both her grandparents – the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip – in poignant and meaningful ways.

‘The Royal family have a military tradition that goes back centuries,’ Mr Fitzwilliams explained. ‘Lady Louise joined the army’s University Officers Corps and is an officer cadet, the first female royal to join the military since her grandmother.’

Meanwhile, royal expert and author Christopher Wilson recently described the young royal as a ‘dark-horse contender’ during an evolving period for the monarchy.

He added that while William’s cousin, Zara Tindall, remains highly popular, she has a successful business and a well-established life outside of the Royal fold.

In recent years, Louise has taken on an increasingly public role after her parents were bumped up the royal food chain following the disgrace of Prince Andrew and the departure of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Meanwhile, Lady Louise is said to be dating a dashing young Army man – and fellow St Andrews student – called Felix da Silva-Clamp.

He attended several of Louise’s carriage-driving events in the summer, and the couple were pictured together at a St Andrews Day military parade last month.

Both looked smart in their military uniforms as they took part in the St Andrews Regiments’ Day Parade over Remembrance Day Weekend.

Praised for her dedication to duty at such a young age, the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh was among the members of the Officers’ Training Corps at the commemorative event for fallen soldiers on November 9 – just one day after her birthday.

Felix and Louise both appeared solemn as they marched alongside fellow cadets in camouflage outfits, all wearing red poppies, walking from Holy Trinity Church to the War Memorial in town where wreaths were laid down. 

Louise is said to have ‘fallen in love’ with army cadets alongside her university degree at St Andrews – much like her father did a generation earlier.

A source told The Sun: ‘She talks about being very keen on a career in the military, serving the King and country. She is all about the Army Cadets and has fallen in love with it.’

Louise was seen cosying up to Felix at her 21st birthday last November. The duo wrapped their arms around each other, gently placing their heads together as Louise took selfies on her phone. In another image, she was seen snuggling up to Felix, placing her hand on his chest and her head on his shoulder.

The pair have been forging a strong bond over the past two years, with Felix – whose father is a solicitor – even reportedly travelling down to the Sandringham estate in Norfolk to see Louise at her driving competition in June, where she won a silver medal.

In 2022, Louise spent the summer working at a garden centre before embarking on her higher education.

Louise was said to have been helping out on the tills, greeting customers, and pruning and potting plants – for £6.63 per hour.

One customer said: ‘She is a really modest and sweet young woman who is polite and attentive to customers. She seemed to be loving the job. You’d never imagine the Queen’s granddaughter would take on a role working behind a till.’

Another added: ‘The staff seemed to adore her. It’s not every day you buy your begonias off a royal.’