Prince William has 'big plans' for popular royal who refused major title
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Prince William has "big plans" for the future of the monarchy, but there is one member of the Royal Family who seemingly wants to walk her own path. Lady Louise Windsor, 21, is William's cousin and the daughter of Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie of Edinburgh. She has a lot in common with the future King and Queen because the young royal is currently studying at the University of St. Andrews - where William and Kate first met.
Louise and her younger brother James, Earl of Wessex, 17, both had the opportunity to use the HRH style from birth, but their parents refused it, hoping that their children would instead have a more normal upbringing. And when Louise turned 18, she also had the chance to take the title of 'Princess' but has yet to do so.
However, the Scottish Daily Express has reported that William has considered officially making Louise and James working royals, which would mean that receive public funding from the Sovereign Grant and undertake engagements on behalf of the crown. As an institution, the monarchy is based on a strict hierarchy, and Louise and James are 15th and 16th in the line of succession, respectively. Because their father Prince Edward is the youngest child of the late Queen and Prince Philip, it seemed unlikely when Louise and James were born that they would be called upon as working royals, and instead they spent much of their upbringing away from the royal spotlight.
This is in part because, for a long time, King Charles was keen to minimise the number of working royals - this was dubbed the 'slimmed down monarchy' and would help reduce the costs of the House of Windsor to the public. Not everyone has been as keen on this idea, however, particularly as recent difficulties the Royal Family has faced have indicated the issues that can arise from not having enough hands on deck.
