Lady Louise's parents, Prince Edward and Sophie, assumed the titles of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh on March 10, 2023, marking a significant moment for the family. It was King Charles who granted Prince Edward this honor on his 59th birthday, fulfilling a long-held desire of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.
As a result, their only son now carries his father's secondary title as a courtesy, and he is now known as James, Earl of Wessex. This change came about through the well-discussed letters patent of 1917, originally issued by King George V, who aimed to reduce the number of individuals holding royal titles within the family.
This move opens up the possibility for Lady Louise Windsor to be addressed as "Her Royal Highness Princess Louise," a title that was previously restricted by these same letters patent. The criteria for using "HRH" for princes and princesses was traditionally limited to the children of the reigning monarch and the grandchildren of the monarch in the male line. While this may seem inconsistent with the ideals of 21st-century equality, it does present the chance for a princess to emerge as the 15th in line to the throne.
Currently, Lady Louise Windsor is making the most of her summer break before returning to the University for her second year, displaying her equestrian talents at the Windsor Carriage driving event. The 19-year-old, who is studying English at St. Andrews University in Scotland, was seen confidently navigating her horse-drawn carriage around the arena. She was dressed in a long gray coat with a white collar shirt underneath, donning a riding helmet and glasses.
Lady Louise has inherited her late grandfather Prince Philip's passion for carriage driving and even participated in the Royal Winter Horse Show in May. Following her grandfather's passing in April 2021, she proudly took the reins of his horse and carriage, continuing the family tradition.
Prince Philip, known for his love of sports, transitioned from polo to carriage driving in 1971 and is credited with introducing the sport to the United Kingdom. He represented England in three European championships and participated in a total of six World Championships.
In other news, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has reportedly faced a setback in her popularity in the United States. This revelation comes in the context of her husband, Prince Harry, visiting England without her. According to a recent poll conducted by Newsweek, Meghan's approval ratings have plummeted in her home country. Currently, only 31 percent of Americans have a favorable view of Meghan, with 33 percent holding a net approval rating of negative two.
On the other hand, Prince Harry's popularity among Americans has also seen a decline, albeit less severe than Meghan's. While he still maintains a positive approval rating, it has dropped from 38 percent to six percent since last December. These polling results emerged during Prince Harry's visit to the UK for a charity event in Germany related to the Invictus Games. Interestingly, Meghan joined Harry in Germany, but only after the event had already commenced, fueling further speculation and intrigue.
