Lady Louise Windsor missed out on royal title due to 'unfair' rule | Royal

Lady Louise Windsor was ‘wrongly’ overlooked for a royal title due to an old 900-year-old rule.

Despite being the eldest child and only daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Lady Louise, was not entitled to a royal title that her younger brother, James, the Earl of Wessex, was .

At their birth – in 2003 and 2007 respectively – Edward and Sophie held the titles of the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

King Charles gave his brother the title Duke of Edinburgh on March 10 last year, Prince Edward’s 59th birthday.

Following the change, his wife, Sophie, became the new Duchess of Edinburgh and their son, James, 16, became the new Earl of Wessex, taking over his father’s former title and effectively leapfrogging his older sister.

However, for Lady Louise, who celebrates her milestone 21st birthday today, there was no change. That’s thanks to a 900-year-old inheritance rule regarding courtesy titles, which is “unfair” to women.

Courtesy titles are used only by the eldest living son of the peer and the eldest living son of the eldest son, and so on.

Other descendants, including daughters, are not allowed to use the peer’s subtitles. Only the heir apparent (and the heir apparent’s heir apparent, etc.) may use it.

This means that Louise has been styled as a Dame since her birth.

The same protocol is followed by Charles Spencer’s daughters, who are known simply as Lady Kitty, Lady Amelia, Lady Eliza, Lady Lara and Lady Charlotte, while his fourth born child – but his eldest son – is known as Louis Spencer, Viscount Althorp. .

However, it is unlikely that James will inherit Edward’s current title, as while the Earl of Wessex is a hereditary title, the Duke of Edinburgh is not.

This means that after his death, the title of Duke of Edinburgh will revert to the Crown, with Prince William and Princess Kate’s children, especially Prince Louis, being the top candidates.

Lady Louise is currently studying at St Andrews University, where the Prince and Princess of Wales met in 2001.

The modern young royal will no doubt celebrate her 21st in style with her friends, while her parents are probably planning something special too.