The youngest granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Edward and Sophie’s oldest daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, celebrates her 21st birthday today.
Louise Has Often Been Compared to Queen Elizabeth
Louise, the 16th in line to the throne, has been enjoying student life at St. Andrews University. She has been snapped on the dance floor with her rumored boyfriend and partying with her friends.
Louise has often been compared to Queen Elizabeth, as she has a classic “English rose” appearance and has an interest in the military. Louise was the result of fertility procedures. Her mother, Sophie, endured a very traumatic birth with Louise.
The story of Louise’s entry into the world nearly ended in tragedy, and her mother lost nine pints of blood through internal bleeding. Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, suffered an acute placental abruption and almost died at Frimley Park Hospital, where Louise was born.
Unfortunately, her husband couldn’t be there until the next day as he was on an official royal visit to Mauritius. It is said that Prince Edward “went as white as a sheet” when he realized the severity of the situation.
Sophie’s prayers were answered when she delivered her baby girl, Louise, at just four pounds and nine ounces. She had an emergency C-section, but she had to be handed off immediately for specialist care.
Sophie’s early birth left her daughter with esotropia, in which both eyes do not look in the same direction. She would grow up to have three separate surgeries for the condition. Her mother says that Louise has perfect sight now.
Sophie Went Into Premature Labor
Louise was born in November 2003, one month before her due date. Neither Sophie nor Edward expected she would give birth, and he decided to go to Mauritius for a royal visit.
Around dinnertime, Sophie was experiencing intense abdominal pain and called the Queen’s obstetrician, who wanted her to go to the emergency room right away. She called for an ambulance.
However, the police showed up, which led to a delay in getting to the hospital. By the time the ambulance arrived, Sophie and her baby were in grave danger.
Duchess Sophie had to spend sixteen days in the hospital away from her baby as she recovered from the traumatic birth. Queen Elizabeth broke royal protocol and secretly visited the hospital to see Sophie.
In 2014, Sophie returned to the same hospital that saved her and her daughter’s lives and opened its neonatal unit. The new organization will allow the hospital to treat babies born as early as twenty-seven weeks. Sophie was very emotional as she unveiled the plaque.
When Sophie came out of the hospital, she remarked that it had been the most frightening time in her life. When mother and daughter were reunited at the hospital, Prince Edward addressed the press.
“The important thing is that this has been a fantastic day in our lives, a day of great relief and joy, and it’s difficult to explain what it is to be together as a family for the first time,”
He said.
Lady Louise Windsor is part of the younger generation of royals representing the Firm. It’s a miracle she’s able to be a part of it.
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