Lady Louise Windsor celebrated graduating from St Andrews University today with her boyfriend – before proudly posing with her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, in new official portraits to mark the milestone.
A solo snap of the young royal showed her holding her Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and International Relations certificate, with St Andrews’ logo emblazoned in gold on its navy blue case, as she smiled for the camera.
The late Queen’s granddaughter, who had a Saturday job in her local garden centre, is said to be ‘sweet, humble and down-to-earth’ by those who know her.
While many would love for Lady Louise to join the dwindling ranks of working royals, the 22-year-old is planning on taking a gap year to consider her options, it can be revealed by the Daily Mail.
During her gap year, she will, according to Buckingham Palace, be undertaking a mixture of working, volunteering and travelling. Officials say they won’t comment further on her future career aspirations at this stage.
In another sweet family moment, she will receive her gold Duke of Edinburgh Award from her father, Prince Edward, alongside hundreds of other young people at a special celebration at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, her uncle King Charles’ official Scottish residence in Edinburgh on Friday.
It’s a particularly special occasion that she has accomplished the prestigious adventure and volunteering award in the 70th anniversary year of the award being founded by her late grandfather, Prince Philip.
This year also marks 40 years of her father’s involvement in championing the award, designed to empower young people to reach their full potential.
Lady Louise Windsor is a graduate! A new portrait showed the young royal wearing her graduation gown after she collected her certificate from the St Andrews University
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh proudly posing with their daughter, Lady Louise
Lady Louise was accompanied by her boyfriend, Felix da Silva Clamp
Sophie flung her arms around Sophie’s partner
Earlier in the day, Lady Louise was pictured beaming during her graduation ceremony at the prestigious university in Scotland that was once also attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The young royal, who is 17th in line to the throne, could be seen in her formal robes, chatting to fellow graduates – and walking alongside her boyfriend Felix da Silva-Clamp, who is also a student at the university.
In one touching moment, the young couple shared a tight hug.
She was also supported by her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, who were seen speaking to college staff amid the festivities.
Lady Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary was born at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey after her mother was rushed to the hospital with complications one month early.
She weighed just 4lb 9oz while her mother, Sophie, was left suffering from severe blood loss and was separated from her much long-for child for several weeks.
She has since returned to the hospital to thank staff for saving her life.
Born with esotropia, a condition that turns the eye outwards, a common condition in premature babies, she had difficulties with her vision growing up and underwent two rounds of surgery.
Her mother says her vision is now perfect but the experience inspired Sophie to campaign on issue of preventable blindness in her honour.
Edward and Sophie eschewed giving their children – Louise and her younger brother James, Earl of Wessex – titles. They were both entitled to use HRHs.
Their view was that the children would need to make their own way in the world and choose whether they wanted to when they were older, but neither has chosen to.
Lady Louise, 22, was beaming as she collected her certificate during her graduation ceremony at the prestigious university in Scotland that was also attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales
Sophie, Louise’s mother, was elegant in a blue dress for the event
She was also supported by her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, who were seen speaking to college staff amid the festivities
Speculation that Lady Louise is in a relationship with Felix – who was perfectly in step with the royal today – began in 2024 after they were cast in the first student-written play to be performed at the Byre Theatre at St Andrews.
The duo were part of the cast of Dragon Fever, described by the Peerage News as ‘an ambitious cross between an Agatha Christie mystery and Tolkien’s The Hobbit’.
Dragon Fever reportedly told the story of nine strangers on a mission to slay a dragon, which ultimately turns into a murder mystery ‘full of riddles, twists, and love affairs’, the outlet reported.
Lady Louise is believed to have played Rigeon, inspired by the hero of Spanish novelist Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote and Lord Byron’s fictional libertine Don Juan.
Meanwhile, Kensington-born Felix portrayed ‘over-the-top’ character Grant.
Photos from a fundraiser for the university’s drama society showed Lady Louise snapping selfies with Felix as the pair looked happy and loved up.
One picture showed the duo with their arms wrapped around each other, while in another image, Lady Louise is seen snuggling up to Felix, placing her hand on his chest and her head on his shoulder.
Felix was born in London’s Kensington and is the son of solicitor Jonathan Charles William da Silva-Clamp – who contested the 2022 local Wandsworth elections as a Tory candidate for Shaftesbury and Queenstown.
The senior Silva-Clamp married an Australian woman, Kendall Anne Searle on October 2, 1998 – nearly six years before they welcomed Felix in August 2004.
The ‘conscientious’ royal, who is believed to have been the late Queen’s favourite grandchild, is reportedly considering a career in the military – meaning her nickname as the Firm’s ‘secret weapon’ may soon materialise
Lady Louise Windsor attends her graduation ceremony as she graduates from the University of St Andrews
If Lady Louise, who has kept a low profile while completing her studies, goes down the military path, she will be the first female royal since her late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, to do so
Last November, it was reported that Felix had joined Lady Louise in their university’s army reserve unit, signalling a growing bond for the couple.
Both looked smart in their military uniforms as they took part in the St Andrews Regiments’ Day Parade over the 2025 Remembrance Day Weekend.
It is not known whether he was part of the students’ unit before or after Lady Louise joined, but seems to show yet another sign that the pair could be on track to be the next William and Kate.
They sported matching solemn expressions as they marched alongside fellow cadets in camouflage ensembles, all wearing red poppies, walking from Holy Trinity Church to the War Memorial in town, where wreaths were laid down.
If Lady Louise, who has kept a low profile while completing her studies, goes down the military path, she will be the first female royal since her late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, to do so.
The King’s niece has also been compared to the late monarch due to their shared love of horses, with royal biographer Ingrid Seward noting: ‘There are shades of the young Elizabeth. There is something about her – a capability. She’s obviously a very gentle young woman.’
On the occasion of her 22nd birthday last November, royal experts suggested the ‘stylish and conscientious’ Lady Louise could be given a bigger role during Prince William’s reign – especially considering the crisis involving his disgraced uncle, former Duke of York, Andrew.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Richard Fitzwilliams noted that William – who has previously expressed his desire to ‘change’ the monarchy – will ‘undoubtedly need extra help if it wants it to continue its charitable activities at a significant level’.
Lady Louise was praised for her humility last December, when she was pictured sitting cross-legged on the floor of a packed train carriage, while tapping away on her laptop diligently
The young royal could be seen in her formal robes, chatting to fellow graduates – and walking alongside her rumoured boyfriend Felix da Silva-Clamp, who is also a student at the university
Prince Edward and Sophie – as well as Louise’s younger brother, the Earl of Wessex – will undoubtedly be proud of Lady Louise, who has been hailed as the Royal Family’s ‘secret weapon’
Lady Louise Windsor attends her graduation ceremony
Lady Louise (pictured graduating today) was praised for her humility last December, when she was pictured sitting cross-legged on the floor of a packed train carriage, while tapping away on her laptop diligently
Lady Louise Windsor attends her graduation ceremony as she graduates from the University of St Andrews
Considering the scandal surrounding their father has ‘cast a shadow’ over Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie’s future roles, Lady Louise is certainly a frontrunner to lead the younger royals, Mr Fitzwilliams continued.
‘William will have appreciated the excellent way the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh support the Firm,’ he told this newspaper.
He added: ‘The signs are surely that with only four working royals currently under 70 and the Waleses’ children still young, that Lady Louise might be persuaded to carry out some royal duties in the future.’
Chief among these are Lady Louise’s ‘particularly appropriate’ course of study at William’s alma mater St Andrews, her desire to follow in the late Queen Elizabeth’s footsteps and pursue a military career, and her presence at numerous royal events.
‘It would certainly be in the interest of the monarchy and all of us if she [carried] out royal duties,’ Mr Fitzwilliams mused.
For Mr Fitzwilliams, it is Lady Louise’s down-to-earth nature and her parents’ unwavering support for the Firm through choppy waters that make her the perfect candidate for any future promotion by William.
Lady Louise was praised for her humility last December, when she was pictured sitting cross-legged on the floor of a packed train carriage, while tapping away on her laptop diligently.
Neither Lady Louise nor her brother James use HRH titles in what is thought to be a deliberate decision by her parents, so they could grow up ‘with the understanding that they are very likely to have to work for a living’.
This has seemingly resonated with Lady Louise, who even took up a job at her local garden centre before starting her studies at St Andrews University.
Whether it is her mature approach to life, her sporting pursuits (she is a skilled carriage driver) or her decision to take a part-time job before university, the first cousin of Princes William and Harry has proved herself to be dedicated, disciplined and ambitious.
Indeed, such traits are hugely valuable amongst royals and have led to the suggestion that Louise might be the Firm’s ‘secret weapon’ in years to come.
