LADY LOUISE WINDSOR COMPETES IN FINAL CARRIAGE DRIVING MEET OF SEASON

Lady Louise Windsor, the daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, competed in the final carriage driving meet of the season at Windsor Great Park on Sunday 4 October, according to photographs published showing her at the event. She drove herself to the competition. Her mother, Sophie, then joined her at the event on foot. The family lives nearby at Bagshot Park. Lady Louise has continued to take part in carriage driving following in the footsteps of her late grandfather, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

She began riding horses from a young age, as did her late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, and her aunt, Princess Anne. Her passion for carriage driving comes from Prince Philip, who helped popularise the sport in the UK and competed into his 90s, having also played polo until 2003. He died in April 2021, leaving Lady Louise his driving carriage and horses. In September, she drove one of his Fell ponies, Balmoral Bertie, at the National British Carriage Driving Championships. Lady Louise is a graduate of the University of St Andrews.

Lady Louise has spoken about her grandfather's influence on her driving in a documentary made after his death. She said the Duke of Edinburgh had been closely involved, describing it as "lovely although slightly scary" given that he had invented the sport. She said he would always ask how a competition had gone, and that his eyes would light up discussing it. She recalled that when they went carriage driving together, he would take her on a different route each time and share anecdotes. Her appearance at Windsor Great Park marked the end of this season's carriage driving calendar.