At the tender age of 15, Lady Louise Windsor, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, showed remarkable poise and leadership while managing a lively group of young pageboys and bridesmaids at Princess Eugenie’s wedding to Jack Brooksbank. Her adept handling of the bustling children earned her an unforgettable reward from her mother, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.
According to Sean Smith’s book, Sophie: Saving The Royal Family, Louise expertly navigated the challenges of the day, gripping tightly to the hands of pageboys including Prince George. When Louis de Givenchy tripped on the chapel steps due to a gust of wind, Louise quickly helped him up. Prince George’s sister, Princess Charlotte, also stumbled in the challenging conditions. Despite the windy disruptions, Lady Louise fulfilled her role as “special attendant” with grace and composure.
Following the ceremony, Lady Louise took her place alongside the Tindalls, receiving a reassuring pat from Zara and quiet praise from Mike Tindall for a job well done. Meanwhile, as the Duchess of Cambridge mingled outside St George’s Chapel, a strong breeze threatened to disrupt her Alexander McQueen dress — but Sophie was right there, skillfully keeping it in place. The younger royals had yet to adopt the Queen’s clever method of sewing weights into hems to avoid wardrobe mishaps.
In recognition of Lady Louise’s quick thinking and dedication, Sophie treated her to an exciting outing to Elstree Film and Television Studios for a live recording of Strictly Come Dancing. The show holds a special place in the royal household, frequently enjoyed together by Sophie, Louise, the Queen, as well as Camilla and Charles.
During the visit, host Tess Daly gave them an exclusive backstage tour before they settled in to watch the performances from the front row. Louise was visibly thrilled, telling Tess, “This is such a treat.” Together, Sophie and Louise enthusiastically joined the audience’s applause as dancers Graeme Swann and Oti Mabuse performed a 1940s-inspired Quickstep to the Andrews Sisters’ classic “Sing Sing Sing.”
This memorable experience made a lasting impression on Lady Louise, blending royal duty with a touch of glittering entertainment — a perfect reward for her composure under pressure.