Congratulations are in order for Lady Louise Windsor, who this week graduated from the University of St Andrews with an English degree!
The young royal has studied at the Scottish university – which is where Prince William and Kate Middleton studied… and started dating! – for the past four years, but celebrated the end of her degree by collecting her certificate on July 2. Interestingly, as she was awarded her certificate, the 22-year-old’s full name (which is rarely used) was revealed. Fans now have confirmation that her official surname is Mountbatten-Windsor.
Lady Louise’s parents, Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie, were also there to cheer her on for the momentous occasion and joined her for a family photograph. One royal who wasn’t in attendance, however, was King Charles, who is also in Scotland at the moment. So, why was the monarch missing?
Given that he’s the king, Charles has a pretty booked and busy schedule, so while he was in Scotland at the time of Lady Louise’s graduation, he was on a royal visit in Jedburgh, which is more than two hours away when travelling by car.
On his Scottish Borders royal outing, Charles started a centuries-old traditional handball game, which has been played by locals in the area since 1704. His Majesty kicked things off by throwing a leather ball into the air above a group of players, who then proceeded to wrestle on the floor to gain control of it. Spoiler alert: Charles had no part in the wrestling, of course.
Rather than joining in on the full-contact game, Charles watched on as the two teams – divided into Uppies and Doonies, depending on the town they live in – battled it out.
Everyone’s clicking on…
As for whether there’ll be any royal visits in Lady Louise’s future now that she has graduated, that’s unlikely. The youngster is not a working royal, unlike Prince William and Kate Middleton, for example, and is planning a gap year following the end of her studies. In that time, Lady Louise is hoping to work, volunteer, and enjoy a spot of travelling before choosing a career.
Well done, Lady Louise!
Jade Biggs (she/her) is one of Cosmopolitan UK’s freelance writers, working across all sections including entertainment, beauty, body, and sex and relationships. She previously held the position of Features Writer, covering everything from breaking news and the latest royal gossip, to the health and fitness trends taking over your TikTok feed. Jade has a degree in journalism and has been a journalist and content editor for ten years, interviewing leading researchers, high-profile influencers, and industry experts in that time. She is a cat mom to four fur babies and is obsessed with Drag Race, bottomless brunches, and wearing clothes only suitable for Bratz dolls. Follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.