Lady Louise Windsor, 17, is a ‘real asset’ to the family, royal expert says – as it’s revealed she and James, Viscount Severn, 13, will accompany their mother Sophie Wessex to Prince Philip’s funeral
- Lady Louise Windsor, 17, and her brother James, 13, will be at the funeral
- The teenagers will accompany their mother to St George’s Chapel by car
- Lady Louise is an ‘asset’ to the royal family and was close to Prince Philip
- Prince Edward, his wife and two children are among the 30 guests invited
Lady Louise Windsor is an ‘asset’ to the royal family, a royal expert has explained, after it was announced the 17-year-old will accompany her mother Sophie Wessex to the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral.
Lady Louise, 17, and her younger brother James, Viscount Severn, 13, will join their mother Sophie, Countess of Wessex, in her car to St George’s Chapel while their father Prince Edward joins the procession of senior royals walking behind the Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin.
Lady Louise enjoyed a close relationship with her grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh thanks to their shared love of carriage driving and has stepped up to support her parents and grandmother the Queen since the death of Prince Philip last week.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s teenage grandchildren Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, will be the youngest mourners at tomorrow’s funeral. On Sunday Lady Louise joined her parents and uncle Prince Andrew for a service at Royal Chapel of All Saints, Windsor, before thanking estate workers for their support and hard work. Pictured, at the event
Lady Louise and James will join their mother Sophie, Countess of Wessex, in her car to St George’s Chapel while their father Prince Edward joins the procession of senior royals walking behind the Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin. Pictured, Edward and Sophie with their children in 2018
On Sunday Lady Louise joined her parents and uncle Prince Andrew for a service at Royal Chapel of All Saints, Windsor, before thanking estate workers for their support and hard work.
It will be one of the most high profile events attended by the young royals, although they were invited to the weddings of their cousins, Prince Harry and Princess Eugenie.
Speaking to FEMAIL, royal author and expert Ingrid Seward explained Lady Louise has ‘always been an asset’ to the royal family.
‘She has always been an asset to the family and very polite which the Queen loves,’ Ingrid said.
‘Remember how she helped the bridesmaids on the steps of St. George’s Chapel as they went inside at Princess Eugenie’s wedding and her skirt blew up in the wind in front of the TV cameras? She handled it very deftly.’
She added on Lady Louise’s bond with the Duke of Edinburgh: ‘Prince Philip took pleasure in watching Louise compete at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
The guests who will be involved in Prince Philip’s funeral procession (left) and those who will be St George’s Chapel (right)
‘I don’t think he taught her himself but he would have made sure she had some top-class tuition from one of his grooms and of course the availability of ponies and carriages to drive.’
Meanwhile 13-year-old James has been trusted to join his parents and sister at public events despite his young age.
He will no doubt join his sister in supporting their mother on the way to Prince Philip’s funeral.
Prince Edward’s family will join the Queen and Philip’s siblings and six nieces and nephews and their respective spouses at the service in St George’s Chapel on Saturday.
These include Jack Brooksbank, the husband of Eugenie, daughter of the duchess and the Duke of York, and Beatrice’s husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
The 67-year-old Countess of Mountbatten – Penelope ‘Penny’ Knatchbull, previously known as Lady Romsey and later Lady Brabourne – was also invited.
Three German relatives – whose ancestors were denied a place at Princess Elizabeth and Philip’s wedding because of anti-German feeling after the second war – have been included.
Others on the guest list include the Queen’s first cousins Princess Alexandra, the Duke of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent, who loyally supported the monarch and Philip by carrying out royal duties over the decades.
But the most prominent name missing from the list is Prince Harry’s wife Meghan, who has stayed at home in Los Angeles.
Also is missing is the Queen’s cousin, Prince Michael of Kent, 78, who is not a working royal.
There was also not room for the spouses of the Queen’s cousins – the Duchess of Gloucester and the Duchess of Kent, nor Prince Michael’s often controversial wife, Princess Michael of Kent.
