The Duchess of Edinburgh and her daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, made a stylish appearance at the Royal Windsor Horse Show’s second day. As Vice President of the prestigious event, Sophie, 61, observed with pride as international athletes showcased their skills on the iconic Windsor Castle grounds, ahead of King Charles’s visit later in the week. With effortless elegance, Sophie paired a tweed jacket with blue textured trousers and a white blouse. Meanwhile, Lady Louise opted for a chic ensemble consisting of a patterned jumper and check skirt, topped with a grey coat. Despite the chilly spring weather and occasional rain, Sophie was seen briefly donning a fashionable waterproof windbreaker over her outfit, accompanied by her husband, Prince Edward.
Lady Louise takes paid role at Royal Windsor Horse Show
Lady Louise, 22, who is currently pursuing English studies at the University of St Andrews, recently embraced a ‘paid job’ at the Royal Windsor Horse Show. Event director Nick Brooks-Ward lauded her as a ‘hard-working’ team member and a ‘real asset.’ He shared with Vanity Fair, “Lady Louise is among the chief organizers, essentially running a first concierge service. She’s dedicated and an invaluable part of the team, receiving no special treatment despite her royal status.” In addition to her behind-the-scenes role, Lady Louise is set to participate in the carriage driving event later in the week.
Her passion for carriage driving was nurtured by her grandfather, the late Prince Philip, with whom she shared a deep connection through the sport. Carriage driving was a cherished hobby for the late Duke of Edinburgh, who competed in races around Norfolk in the 1970s and represented Britain in several world and European championships. In a touching homage, Lady Louise drove her grandfather’s carriage during the ‘Gallop Through History’ procession at Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee in May 2022. She continues to honor his legacy by competing in equestrian events, often driving his ponies to keep his memory alive.
Lady Louise continues low-profile royal role
She will participate in the Meet of the British Driving Society on the final day of the event, with Edward and Sophie expected to attend in their role as president and vice-president of the show. Mr Brooks-Ward said the Duke and Duchess ‘invest a lot of time in the show’ that has become a cherished royal family tradition. Louise, who is frequently referred to as The Firm’s ‘dark horse’, has also often been compared to the late Monarch, particularly due to their shared love of horses. Lady Louise is seldom seen at royal events with her family as she prioritises her studies and keeps a lower profile – but as she’s set to be considering a career in the military, her nickname as The Firm’s ‘secret weapon’ may soon materialise. Last November, it was reported that Lady Louise has ‘fallen in love’ with army cadets alongside her university degree at St Andrews – much like her father did a generation earlier.
Lady Louise linked to potential military career path
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.’ If the royal, who has maintained a low profile during her university days, goes down the military path, she will be the first female royal since her late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, to do so. Commenting on their similar nature, royal biographer Ingrid Seward previously told the Daily Mail: ‘There are shades of the young Elizabeth. There is something about her – a capability. She’s obviously a very gentle young woman.’ The late Queen, who died on September 8, 2022, made her final visit to the horse show just months before her death. The beloved monarch would wander among the stalls wearing a headscarf and often entered homebred horses and ponies in classes at the show.
Lady Louise has been touted as the royal family’s ‘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’ in King Charles’s ‘slimmed down’ monarchy following the scandal surrounding his younger brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
