Lady Louise Windsor beamed as she collected her degree certificate during a graduation ceremony at the University of St Andrews on Thursday, marking the end of four years of study in English and international relations. The 22-year-old, the late Queen’s youngest granddaughter, was joined by her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, who watched proudly as she took part in the university’s traditional ‘capping’ ritual. To celebrate the milestone, two official portraits were released: one of Louise alone in her graduation robe holding her certificate, and another alongside Sophie and Prince Edward.
Louise follows in the footsteps of her older cousin Prince William and his wife Kate, both St Andrews graduates. But unlike some royal relatives, she is not expected to become a working royal. Her mother, Sophie, has previously said it is ‘highly unlikely’ that Louise and her younger brother James, the Earl of Wessex, will adopt their HRH titles upon turning 18. The siblings have largely grown up away from the spotlight, shielded by their parents while focusing on their studies.
“Lady Louise Windsor graduates from St Andrews with a degree in English and international relations, planning a gap year.”
Now, with her degree complete, Louise plans to take a gap year that will involve a mix of working, volunteering and travelling. Before university, she worked a summer job at a garden centre earning £6.83 an hour, and earlier this year helped organise the Royal Windsor Horse Show. She has also attended major royal events, including the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, King Charles’s Coronation and Trooping the Colour.
Tomorrow brings another milestone: Louise will receive her Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award from her father, Prince Edward, at a special ceremony at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. The moment is especially poignant, falling in the 70th anniversary year of the award’s founding by her late grandfather Prince Philip, and 40 years since Edward became involved in supporting the youth adventure scheme.
Born prematurely in November 2003 weighing just 4lb 9oz, Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor has grown into a young woman carving her own path. Her graduation marks not just an academic achievement but a step away from royal tradition, as she prepares for life beyond the palace walls.