The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are marking a special occasion today as their daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, celebrates her 22nd birthday. This event offers a welcome break from the recent challenges faced by the Royal Family concerning Prince Andrew.

As Lady Louise, the niece of King Charles, steps into another year, royal commentators suggest she might play a more prominent role in the monarchy during Prince William’s future reign. This speculation arises amidst the ongoing issues surrounding the former prince.

In a conversation with the Daily Mail, royal analyst Richard Fitzwilliams mentioned that Prince William, who has previously voiced a desire to modernize the monarchy, will likely require additional support to sustain its significant charitable endeavors.

Given the controversies affecting their father, which have clouded the future roles of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Lady Louise emerges as a leading candidate to guide the younger generation of royals, Fitzwilliams explained.

Fitzwilliams remarked that Prince William likely values the steadfast support the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have provided to the monarchy.

He further noted, “With only four working royals under the age of 70 and the Waleses’ children still quite young, it seems probable that Lady Louise might be encouraged to take on some royal duties moving forward.”

Chief among these are Lady Louise’s ‘particularly appropriate’ course of study at William’s alma mater St Andrew’s, her desire to follow in the late Queen Elizabeth’s footsteps and pursue a military career, and her presence at numerous royal events. 

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

Many have looked towards Prince William’s cousin, Lady Louise Windsor, who celebrates her 22nd birthday today, as a possible figure who could be brought in to help inject a new, modern essence into the Monarchy

As heir to the throne during a particularly turbulent period for the Royal Family, Prince William has previously declared, ‘change is on my agenda’ while reflecting on the future of the monarchy. 

During an interview with Canadian actor Eugene Levy, William, 43, said: ‘I embrace that and I enjoy that change – and I don’t fear it.

‘That’s the bit that excites me, is the idea of being able to bring some change. Not overly radical change, but changes that I think that need to happen’. 

While the details of such ‘changes’ remain unclear, many view the daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, as a possible figure who could help inject a new, modern essence into the monarchy.

For Mr Fitzwilliams, it is Lady 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 Prince William, Harry, Beatrice, and Eugenie, Louise is understood to use the title ‘Lady’, since 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 starting her studies at St Andrew’s University.

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told The Daily Mail: ‘We know William wants to change the monarchy, but if he wants it to continue its charitable activities at a significant level, he will undoubtedly need extra help’ (Lady Louise and her mother Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh)

For Mr Fitzwilliams, it is the young Royal’s down-to-earth nature and her parents’ proven ability to support the Firm that ensures she is a perfect candidate for future promotion by William

Young Louise, who has followed in William’s footsteps by attending St Andrew’s University, seems to have firmly cemented herself in the eyes of Royal onlookers thanks to her firm position as the late Prince Philip’s ‘favourite grandchild’

According to Mr Fitzwilliams, her choice of study is 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 Lady Louise has kept a relatively low profile during her time at St Andrew’s university, where the Prince and Princess of Wales met and fell in love, 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, Lady 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.’ 

In previous photos shared on social media, Lady Louise appeared to be in high spirits as she donned military gear and covered her face in camo paint while taking part in training with her university’s officers’ training corps.

 Prior to his tragic passing in 2021, Philip and Lady Louise were said to have bonded over their mutual love of carriage-driving. Speaking to the Daily Mail, royal author Ingrid Seward explained how Philip had taken ‘great pleasure’ in watching his granddaughter compete

The young Royal has also often been compared to the late Monarch, particularly due to their shared love of horses. Commenting on the likened nature of the two, Seward said: ‘There are shades of the young Elizabeth. There is something about her – a capability’

Mr Fitzwilliams added that there has been ‘considerable interest’ in her participation in carriage driving – a much-loved sport of her grandfather Prince Philip. 

The former Duke of Edinburgh’s ‘favourite grandchild’, Lady Louise is known for having brought not just joy, but also a great sense of personal pride, to Philip. 

This was in part because Lady Louise is the first royal to officially carry the surname Mountbatten-Windsor, therefore allowing Philip’s surname – Mountbatten – to remain in the family.

Shortly after her birth, a former aide said he was ‘thrilled’ at the prospect of the name remaining in the Monarchy – 55 years after the birth of his first child. 

Lady Louise shared a close relationship with Philip until his tragic passing in 2021, with the pair said to have bonded over their mutual love of carriage-driving. 

The late Duke of Edinburgh counted the activity as one of his favourite pastimes. In the 1970s, Philip raced carriages near Norfolk before going on to represent Britain at several world and European championships. 

In a heartfelt tribute to her grandfather, Lady Louise drove his carriage during an emotional procession at the finale of the ‘Gallop Through History’ during Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in May 2022. 

Sophie previously revealed that Philip was ‘so pleased’ that his granddaughter had wanted to take up the sport, adding that he was ‘so encouraging’ of her passion as an accomplished equestrian.

It was even reported that Louise had no idea her grandmother was the Queen until later in life, with her parents wanting to preserve a ‘normal childhood’ for her

Seward explained that Louise and James ‘were the grandchildren that the late Queen and Philip saw the most’. Meanwhile, The Daily Mail’s Diary Editor Richard Eden expressed that a growing contribution from Lady Louise, 14th in line of succession, would be a wise move from William

She added: ‘So 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.

‘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.’

Speaking to the Daily Mail previously, royal author Ingrid Seward explained how Philip had taken ‘great pleasure’ in watching his granddaughter compete.

Lady Louise now frequently partakes in equestrian competitions and has driven her beloved grandfather’s ponies as a way to keep his memory alive. 

The young Royal has also often been compared to the late Monarch, particularly due to their shared love of horses.

Commenting on their similar nature, Ms Seward said: ‘There are shades of the young Elizabeth. There is something about her – a capability.

‘She’s obviously a very gentle young woman.’ 

Ms Seward explained that during the last few years of the late Queen and Philip’s lives, Louise and her brother, James, Earl of Wessex, ‘were the grandchildren that they saw the most’.

In comparison to ‘the older ones [who] were seen less frequently, this little girl was there every weekend’.

It was even reported that Louise had no idea her grandmother was the Queen until later in life, with her parents wanting to preserve a ‘normal childhood’ for her.

Her mother, Sophie, once revealed in an interview that as a child, Louise had come home one day saying: ‘Mummy, people keep on telling me that grandma is the Queen.’

On October 31, a statement by Buckingham Palace revealed that Andrew had been stripped of his Royal titles and evicted from Windsor’s Royal Lodge amid heightened scrutiny over his friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. 

Now, in his absence, it remains unclear how the Monarchy will shape as it seeks to adapt and repair itself amid a time of great scandal.

However, Lady Louise has been touted as its ‘secret weapon’ who could continue the ‘royal family’s legacy’ – following in her mother Sophie’s footsteps. 

Phil Dampier, who has written about the Firm for 35 years, told the Telegraph that Lady Louise is ‘mature’ for her age, and is progressing to become ‘precisely the kind of person the [late] Queen can rely on’.

‘You have to ask yourself who is going to continue their legacy with Harry and Meghan and Prince Andrew off the scene? There’s a huge workload there.’ 

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

Writing in his Palace Confidential newsletter last year, the Daily Mail’s Diary Editor Richard Eden expressed that a growing contribution from Lady Louise, 14th in the line of succession, would be a wise move from William.

He wrote: ‘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?’