Lady Louise Windsor, the daughter of Duchess Sophie and Prince Edward, is currently studying at St Andrews University in Scotland. She’s a fourth-year student there now. During term-time, she lives in Scotland, where she has largely avoided the limelight to continue her studies. The star of the show Catching Fire has taken root on campus, making her mark in a number of student productions. On top of all that last year, she enrolled in the University Officers’ Training Corps (UOTC).
At St Andrews, Lady Louise has found her Old Vic inner diva. She just finished portraying a “powerful and cynical witch” in a production called Dragon Theatre, that had its world premiere last January. This deep involvement in the arts is a testament to her skill at navigating academic pressure while still making time for extracurriculars. With her regal pedigree, though, she maintains an understated profile on campus. This gives her the opportunity to get the most out of her education experience and bond with other students.
Lady Louise is not the only royal to take her studies seriously. Her brother, James, Earl of Wessex, is 17 years old. He is a strong influencer in the royal family’s dedication to education. Their mother, Duchess Sophie, highlighted Lady Louise’s university life during a visit to Japan, where she spoke about her daughter’s experiences while meeting Ukrainian refugees and evacuees in Tokyo.
Duchess Sophie shared her dismay at the effects of the war in Ukraine since the beginning on her visit last year. To close, she reminded us all of the power of education by recounting a moving experience with Daniel Zagorodniy, a 16-year-old Ukrainian refugee. At their first meeting, Daniel opened up about his dream of studying international relations in college.
“As well as studying? Goodness me. That’s a lot for a 16-year-old. Well, I’m sure your mother is happy to know that you’re safe. I don’t underestimate how hard it is, so well done.” – Sophie
This announcement marks Duchess Sophie’s first public engagement supporting young people who have been affected by the challenges and causes of conflict. Whatever her educational plans and career aspiration might be, they seem to be her best kept secret. What is causing considerable excitement, though, is her academic path thus far at St Andrews.
The university’s history makes it hugely important to the royal family. It’s the university that Lady Louise’s cousin, Prince William, and his wife Kate Middleton attended in the early 2000s. This connection brings a whole new layer of interest to Lady Louise’s journey as she grapples with university life.
