Prince Philip was 'pleased' with Lady Louise says Sophie Wessex

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Lady Louise Windsor, 17, has shown she is comfortable in the public eye as she has accompanied her parents Sophie, Countess of Wessex, 56, and Prince Edward, 57, on outings in recent months. The royal teenager’s poise in the spotlight has prompted speculation she could take on a formal role within the monarchy in future.

Nonetheless, one privilege Louise will not get to enjoy is inheriting her father Edward’s earldom of Wessex peerage.

The law of male primogeniture still applies in the UK and means titles can only pass down the male line of the family.

This means Louise’s brother James, Viscount Severn, 13, will be the next Earl of Wessex, unless the law is changed to allow daughters equal rights to their father’s peerages.

Despite being unlikely to become the next Countess of Wessex, Louise already has a royal title of her own.

As Queen Elizabeth II’s granddaughter, she has technically had a princess title and HRH style from birth ,but her parents decided to raise their children without them.

It is understood Sophie and Edward didn’t want their children to have the pressure of growing up with official titles.

Louise will turn 18 this November. At which point she will be able to choose whether or not she wants to be known as a princess going forward.

But even if Louise did become a princess, she is unlikely to ever become a working member of the monarchy.

Sophie and Edward’s daughter is 15th in line to the throne and with Prince Charles’s, 72, reported plans for a slimmed-down monarchy, it seems highly unlikely she will become an official member of the Firm.

It has long been understood that Louise’s father Edward would inherit his father’s Duke of Edinburgh title. However royal insiders have cast doubts on the plans in recent days.

Charles automatically became Duke of Edinburgh upon Prince Philip’s death, and it will be up to him to redistribute the title when he becomes king.

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Despite Philip asking Edward in person to take on the title, sources have claimed Charles does not intend to hand it on.

Explaining the process by which Edward gets the title after Charles becomes king, royal expert Iain MacMarthanne told Express.co.uk: “Assuming Prince Charles succeeds his mother, the dukedom will merge with the crown, in essence, it will cease to be.”

He added: “Once merged, it can be given a new creation by the incumbent monarch.”

The expert concluded: “It will be at the new king’s discretion as to whether or not the Dukedom of Edinburgh is recreated in favour of Edward or anyone else for that matter.”

Lady Louise will get her AS-Level results this summer.

She lives in Surrey at Bagshot Park with her parents and brother.

The Wessexes are royal favourites and often visit the Queen at Windsor Castle.

They are expected to travel to Balmoral in August to spend time with the Queen there during her summer break.

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