The Duchess of Edinburgh and her daughter Lady Louise Windsor proved to be a stylish duo as they attended the second day of the Royal Windsor Horse show today.
Sophie, 61, serves as Vice President of the annual show, and watched on with pride as the talented international athletes competed in the grounds of Windsor Castle ahead of King Charles’s attendance later this week.
Looking effortlessly elegant, the royal teamed a tweed jacket with a pair of blue textured trousers and a white blouse for the occasion, while her daughter looked chic in a patterned jumper and check skirt, paired with a grey coat.
Braving the cooler spring weather and rather wet conditions, Sophie, who was also joined by her husband, Prince Edward, was briefly captured draping a fashionable waterproof windbreaker over her jacket.
It comes after Lady Louise, 22, who is studying English at the University of St Andrew’s, accepted a ‘paid job’ at the Royal Windsor Horse Show as officials praised the ‘hard-working’ royal as a ‘real asset’ to the team.
According to Nick Brooks-Ward, the director of the event, the down-to-earth royal is operating a ‘first concierge service’.
He told Vanity Fair: ‘Lady Louise is one of the chief organizers, essentially operating a first concierge service. She’s a great worker and a real asset to the team with no airs or graces. It’s a proper paid job and there’s no special treatment because of who she is.’
In addition to helping out behind-the-scenes, Lady Louise will also compete in the carriage driving event later this week.
Sophie, 61, serves as Vice President of the annual show, and watched on with pride as the talented international athletes competed in the grounds of Windsor Castle ahead of King Charles’s attendance later this week
The Duchess of Edinburgh and her daughter Lady Louise Windsor proved to be a stylish duo as they attended the second day of the Royal Windsor Horse show today
At one stage, the Duchess appeared to suffer a brief faux pas as she burnt her mouth on a warm drink
The royal was taught to carriage drive as a young girl by her grandfather, the late Prince Philip, and the pair are said to have bonded over a shared love of the sport.
The late Duke of Edinburgh counted the activity as one of his favourite pastimes. In the 1970s, Philip raced carriages near Norfolk before going on to represent Britain at several world and European championships.
In a heartfelt tribute to her grandfather, Lady Louise drove his carriage during an emotional procession at the finale of the ‘Gallop Through History’ during Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in May 2022.
Lady Louise now frequently partakes in equestrian competitions and has driven her beloved grandfather’s ponies as a way to keep his memory alive.
She will participate in the Meet of the British Driving Society on the final day of the event, with Edward and Sophie expected to attend in their role as president and vice-president of the show.
Mr Brooks-Ward said the Duke and Duchess ‘invest a lot of time in the show’ that has become a cherished Royal Family tradition.
Louise, who is frequently referred to as The Firm’s ‘dark horse’, has also often been compared to the late Monarch, particularly due to their shared love of horses.
Lady Louise is seldom seen at royal events with her family as she prioritises her studies and keeps a lower profile – but as she’s set to be considering a career in the military, her nickname as the Firm’s ‘secret weapon’ may soon materialise.
Later in the day, a beaming Sophie presented the trophy for the Driving for the Disabled class – an opportunity for disabled drivers (known as ‘whips’) to showcase their incredible talent
According to Nick Brooks-Ward, the director of the event, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh ‘invest a lot of time in the show’ that has become a cherished Royal Family tradition
Last November, it was reported that Lady Louise has ‘fallen in love’ with army cadets alongside her university degree at St Andrews – much like her father did a generation earlier.
A source told The Sun: ‘She talks about being very keen on a career in the military, serving the King and country. She is all about the Army Cadets and has fallen in love with it.’
If the royal, who has maintained a low profile during her university days, goes down the military path, she will be the first female royal since her late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, to do so.
Commenting on their similar nature, royal biographer Ingrid Seward previously told the Daily Mail: ‘There are shades of the young Elizabeth. There is something about her – a capability. She’s obviously a very gentle young woman.’
The late Queen, who died on September 8, 2022, made her final visit to the horse show just months before her death.
The beloved monarch would wander among the stalls wearing a headscarf and often entered homebred horses and ponies in classes at the show.
Lady Louise has been touted as the Royal Family’s ‘secret weapon’ who could continue the ‘Royal Family’s legacy’ – following in her mother Sophie’s footsteps.
Phil Dampier, who has written about the Firm for 35 years, told the Telegraph that Lady Louise is ‘mature’ for her age, and is progressing to become ‘precisely the kind of person the [late] Queen can rely on’.
‘You have to ask yourself who is going to continue their legacy with Harry and Meghan and Prince Andrew off the scene? There’s a huge workload there.’
Meanwhile, royal expert and author Christopher Wilson recently described the young royal as a ‘dark-horse contender’ in King Charles’s ‘slimmed down’ monarchy, following the scandal surrounding his younger brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
