Louise was born prematurely on 8 November 2003 at 23:32 GMT at Frimley Park Hospital in Frimley, Surrey, after her mother, Sophie, who was then Countess of Wessex, was rushed there by ambulance from their home at Bagshot Park, Surrey. Louise's father, Prince Edward, then Earl of Wessex, was not present for the birth because it occurred suddenly and while he was on an official visit to Mauritius.[1] Louise was delivered by emergency Caesarean section due to placental abruption, which caused severe blood loss to both child and mother. Louise was transferred to a neo-natal unit in St George's Hospital, Tooting, London, as a precaution. Meanwhile, her mother remained at Frimley Park until she was well enough to be discharged, on 23 November 2003. Her name, Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary, was announced on 27 November.[2]
Born with esotropia, Louise underwent an operation in 2006 in an unsuccessful attempt to correct the condition.[5] She had further treatment in late 2013 that corrected her eyes.[6]
In August 2018, Louise accompanied her mother, patron of UK Sail Training, to Haslar Marina in Portsmouth Harbour to meet a group of young girls working towards earning their qualification on an entry-level course of the Royal Yachting Association.[12] In the same month, mother and daughter attended the final of the Hockey Women's World Cup in London. The Duchess is the patron of England Hockey.[13] To celebrate Louise's 15th birthday in November 2018, mother and daughter made a cameo appearance on Strictly Come Dancing as they watched the popular BBC television show from the audience.[14] Louise accompanied her mother in attending the International Horse Show at Olympia, London, in December 2018.[15]
In September 2020, Louise participated in the Great British Beach Clean with her family at Southsea Beach, in support of the Marine Conservation Society.[16][17]
Louise at the coronation of Charles III and Camilla in 2023
Louise is a member of Girlguiding, of which her grandmother was patron and her mother is president.[26] Her mother was a Brownie and a Guide when she was a child.[27]
Louise was taught to ride at an early age, and joined her father on horseback as part of the Queen's 90th birthday celebrations in Windsor in 2016.[28] She has taken up carriage driving, a sport popularised in Britain by her grandfather, Prince Philip.[29] In May 2017, she was responsible for leading the carriages of the Champagne Laurent-Perrier Meet of the British Driving Society at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.[30] In May 2019, Louise took part in the Private Driving Singles carriage drive at the Royal Windsor Horse Show and achieved third place.[31] She inherited her grandfather's driving ponies and carriage in April 2021.[32] In 2022, she drove one of his carriages in front of the Queen at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.[33]
Louise is styled as "Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor",[34][35][36][37] although at the time of her birth the palace also used the style "Lady Louise Windsor" in some of its announcements.[38][39] At birth, Louise automatically became a princess of the United Kingdom due to letters patent issued in 1917 which assigned princely status and the style of Royal Highness to all children of a monarch's sons.[40] However, when her parents married, Elizabeth II, via a Buckingham Palace press release, announced that their children would be styled as the children of an earl, rather than as prince or princess.[41] In 2020, her mother stated that Louise retained her royal title and style and could make a choice on whether to use it from the age of 18.[42][needs update]
Honours
In June 2008, to recognise a visit by Louise's father to the Canadian province of Manitoba, a lake in the north of the province was named Lake Louise. Louise's brother was similarly honoured by Lake James in the same province.[43]
^"The Queen's grandchildren hold a Vigil at Westminster Hall". The Royal Family. 17 September 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2023. The Queen's grandchildren, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Sussex, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Viscount Severn, Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, Mr. Peter Phillips, and Mrs. Zara Tindall held a Vigil beside Her Majesty The Queen's coffin at Westminster Hall.
^"The Royal Family"(PDF). The Royal Family. Retrieved 23 February 2023. Members of the Royal Family... Annex D - Royal Family
^"Succession". The Royal Family. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
The generations indicate descent from George I, who formalised the use of the titles prince and princess for members of the British royal family. Where a princess may have been or is descended from George I more than once, her most senior descent, by which she bore or bears her title, is used.
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