The Lady Louise Windsor¹ (Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor) (born November 8th, 2003), is a member of the British Royal Family, the daughter of His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex. She is the only grandchild of a British monarch in the male line not to use the title of Princess with the style Her Royal Highness. The Lady Louise is eighth in line to the British throne.

Birth

The Lady Louise Windsor was born on November 8, 2003 at Frimley Park Hospital , Surrey. Her father is HRH The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, the youngest son of HM The Queen and HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Her mother is HRH The Princess Edward, The Countess of Wessex (née Sophie Rhys-Jones). She was born by emergency Caesarian section, necessitated by a placental abruption causing severe blood loss to both child and mother, before her due date in December,

Title

Under letters patent issued in 1917, the Lady Louise is entitled to the title of Her Royal Highness Princess Louise of Wessex, due to her status as a grandchild of a reigning Sovereign in the male line. However, this title is almost never used, either formally and informally; for, after their marriage, the Earl and Countess of Wessex announced that (with the Queen's permission) any future child of theirs would be styled "Lord" or "Lady," rather than "Prince" or "Princess." The reasoning behind this decision was to give a low profile to their children and shield them from media interest. Thus, Buckingham Palace and the Court Circular refer to her as the Lady Louise Windsor only. Legally, however, she remains HRH Princess Louise of Wessex, as the letters patent of 1917 have not been formally amended or revoked.

See Also

• British Royal Family
• List of British princesses

Preceded by: HRH The Earl of Wessex

Line of Succession to the British throne

Followed by: HRH The Princess Royal