S Poddar
Prince William is said to be seriously considering giving one of the junior members of the Royal Family a new title once he becomes the king. Among those gaining much admiration from the fans of the Royal Family of late is Lady Louise Windsor, 21 years old, and the daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex.
Having just been accepted to join the St Andrew’s University Officers Training Corps, Lady Louise is emulating the lead set by her great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II when she enrolled in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) in 1945. The decision has stoked ever-widening rumors that Prince William, aged 42, might hand her a new royal title as part of his blueprint for the future once he assumes the throne.
A source close to the situation shared with New Zealand Woman’s Day, “William is very keen on making her a working royal. He’s even willing to give her a new title. The devotion she has shown all these years will only get better with military service-she is an incredibly excellent young lady.
While it is apparent that Lady Louise’s dedication and increasing public profile have won the heart of the Prince of Wales, her parents, Edward and Sophie, deliberately decided not to grant HRH titles on her or her brother Viscount James, Earl of Wessex, at birth. According to them, it was for the two siblings to grow up away from the harsh glare of royal duties and expectations.
Interestingly, when she turned 18, Lady Louise had the opportunity to take on the title of Princess, but she declined and followed in her mother’s footsteps in not using the Princess title. This has made many believe that Louise wants a life that has a bit of normalcy attached to it. James, who turns 18 this December, is likely to take a similar stand regarding titles.
Whereas Louise has thus far approached life as a member of the royal family by maintaining an element of privacy, sources close to Buckingham Palace say that Prince William wants to be seen presenting her more visibly on the international stage. Despite this, Louise’s mother, Sophie, has voiced her belief that both Louise and James are “unlikely” to ever adopt the formal titles of Prince and Princess. It appears that the Wessex family remains committed to allowing their children the space to choose their own roles in the Royal Family without being heavily tied to the traditional titles and obligations that accompany royal life.
Given that Lady Louise is taking on other roles, such as joining the Officers Training Corps, it appears she is at that point in her life with the Royal Family where something momentous may be within her future. It would, of course be a significant step for Prince William to offer her an official title if that were the case and would mark a good milestone in her royal experience, perhaps as part of an overall change that applies throughout the modern monarchy. Time will tell if Lady Louise will take on a greater role or remain on the path of keeping her royal background balanced with the more independent life she has made for herself.
If Prince William does give her a new title, that will certainly be because of his rising ambition to give the younger generation of the Royal Family a chance to play a more active role as they continue to forge the future of the monarchy.
