Lady Louise's 18th birthday means that the young royal now has to make an important decision about her title and whether she will be referred to as 'Her Royal Highness'.
- Lady Louise Windsor turned 18 on Monday, November 8, 2021.
- Lady Louise is one of the youngest of Queen Elizabeth's eight grandchildren.
- In other royal news, Princess Anne was called 'sexy' by a fan, see the 71-year-old's hilarious reaction revealed.
When regular teenagers turn 18, most of them are preoccupied with their newfound ability to go clubbing, buy alcohol (in the UK), and vote, but for one member of the royal family, their 18th birthday means a big decision must be made.
Lady Louise Windsor, the eldest daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie the Countess of Wessex, has just turned 18, and now needs to make an important decision about her title.
As a member of the royal family, Louise is entitled to use an HRH (Her Royal Highness) title. However, the Earl and Countess of Wessex decided when she was born that she would not use it and would instead be a Lady and her younger brother, a Viscount.
The couple wanted their children to grow up with a more normal lifestyle and expected them to have normal jobs as adults instead of being working members of the royal family.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, the Countess of Wessex said, "We try to bring them up with the understanding they are very likely to have to work for a living,” she adds. “Hence we made the decision not to use HRH titles. They have them and can decide to use them from 18, but I think it’s highly unlikely.”
In the interview, Louise's mother insisted that she and her brother have had a very normal childhood and are unlike other members of the royal family in that regard.
"They go to a regular school. They go to friends for sleepovers and parties. At weekends we do lots of dog walking and stay with friends. I guess not everyone’s grandparents live in a castle, but where you are going is not the important part, or who they are. When they are with the Queen, she is their grandmother," said the Countess.
Although the Countess seems certain that Lady Louise will not opt to use the title, as an adult this is entirely her decision.
If Louise decides against a royal title, she will not be alone. Her older cousins Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips also do not use a royal title. This is because of an archaic royal tradition that means royal titles can only pass from the males in the family. As such, when Princess Anne's husband Mark declined a title, his children were also deprived of receiving an HRH title.
Lady Louise's other cousins, Prince William, Prince Harry, Princess Beatrice, and Princess Eugenie, all still use their titles. However, only Prince William's children have received royal titles. It is thought that once Prince Charles is King, Prince Harry's children Lilibet and Archie could be given titles if he so chooses.
Fans believe that Lady Louise Windsor is tipped to replace Prince Harry for this important royal role. However, Buckingham Palace has yet to make any formal announcements about what the 18-year-old's adulthood means for her role as a royal.
-
Everyone in New York is wearing a trending colourway that will elevate your everyday wardrobe, including Naomi WattsSpotted head to toe in a rich, warm tan at the Ralph Lauren show, Watts shows us exactly why we should be investing in these classic hues
-
How to watch Race Across the World from anywhere - stream the BBC reality series onlineThe acclaimed reality series is back for a highly anticipated fifth outing, and there's no need to miss out on any of the action
-
Forget-me-not blue is the pastel Duchess Sophie always comes back to - it might've overtaken pistachio as our favourite this seasonThe royals love wearing a range of colours for engagements and visits, but there are a few hues that each of them gravitate towards the most.
-
Don't let white jeans daunt you - Duchess Sophie's recent outfit shows they're just as versatile as blue denimBlue jeans are a wardrobe must-have for so many of us but white denim has a reputation for being a lot more challenging to style.
-
Duchess Sophie’s added a dainty Missoma bracelet to her jewellery box and we're buying the exact sameDuchess Sophie wore one bracelet on repeat during her visit to Nepal and this stunning Missoma design is in our basket.
-
Kate Middleton and Duchess Sophie prove that buying items you love in multiple colours can really pay offThey've shown that having your favourite pieces in several shades can be so handy if they're true to your signature style
-
Duchess Sophie means business in powder blue power suit and reminds us tailoring can be fun as well as sophisticatedIf you always thought tailoring was a little too corporate you might re-consider after seeing Duchess Sophie's fabulous pastel co-ord
-
Snake print wedges with lemon-drop-yellow? Duchess Sophie just showed us how it's doneThe Duchess of Edinburgh has brought back one of her favourite dresses for the first time in 2025 and styled it with snake print shoes
-
Duchess Sophie's soothing sage walls and cream cabinets in Bagshot Park kitchen create a sense of calm cosinessThe Duchess of Edinburgh's royal kitchen is a calming space with soft green and cream tones and she once shared a glimpse of it
-
Duchess Sophie brings royal style to New York with chocolate brown blazer and pink satin shirtThe Duchess of Edinburgh was the epitome of smart sophistication in New York in her tailored blazer and contrasting shirt
