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As Prince William takes on a more prominent role within the royal family, it appears as though he’s going to need to work extra hard at convincing two members of the Firm to follow suit.
As next in line to the throne, the Prince of Wales, 42, has reportedly started “seizing more power” from his cancer-stricken father, King Charles.
The future king is said to be putting his foot down on several key decisions about the Firm’s long-term future.
Among those is giving some lesser-known royals more of a spotlight, including Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie of Edinburgh’s children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex.
Lady Louise, 21, has stayed largely out of the public eye throughout her childhood and recent years, instead choosing to focus on her education at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, where William met his wife, Kate Middleton.
She and her younger brother James, 17, were both offered the opportunity to have HRH (His/Her Royal Highness) titles from birth, however their parents decided to pass and instead offer their children more of a “normal” upbringing.
A new report by the Scottish Daily Express claims that William has recently been mulling over the idea of giving Louise and James yet another chance at becoming working members of the Firm.
Should they accept the role, the duo will begin receiving public funding, which in turn would mean they will have to start undertaking public-facing engagements and events to represent the Crown.
While the move hasn’t been confirmed, it would relieve some pressure within the royal fold, especially following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s shocking departure from the Firm five years ago.
After Louise turned 18, she was once again offered the chance to become Princess Louise — but she politely turned it down.
Meanwhile, it appears as though her brother — who turns 18 in Dec. 2025 — is likely to follow suit, according to the Sunday Times royal editor Roya Nikkhah.
Nikkhah previously said it was “highly unlikely” that Louise or James, who are 15th and 16th in the line of succession, respectively, would ever use the titles offered to them.
As for their upbringing, Louise and James’ parents put extra focus on ensuring that the duo’s childhood was as “normal” as possible.
“We try to bring them up with the understanding they are very likely to have to work for a living,” Sophie, 59, told the Sunday Times Magazine in 2020.
“Hence we made the decision not to use HRH titles. They have them and can decide to use them from 18, but I think it’s highly unlikely.”
She went on, “What’s normal? They go to a regular school [they both attend top independent schools]. They go to friends for sleepovers and parties.”
“At weekends we do lots of dog walking and stay with friends. I guess not everyone’s grandparents live in a castle, but where you are going is not the important part, or who they are. When they are with the Queen, she is their grandmother,” the Duchess of Edinburgh added.
