Lady Louise Windsor, 22, took part in the Glebe Estate Carriage Driving Trials in West Sussex over the weekend, with her boyfriend Felix da Silva-Clamp cheering her on from the sidelines.
The granddaughter of the late Queen appeared in excellent spirits throughout the competition, donning full riding gear as she tackled the Marathon section of the event.
Da Silva-Clamp, a fellow graduate of the University of St Andrews, was there to offer his support.
The pair were also spotted wearing matching Royal Windsor Horse Show caps as they enjoyed the rest of the day together.
Lady Louise Windsor, 22, took part in the Glebe Estate Carriage Driving Trials in West Sussex over the weekend, with her boyfriend Felix da Silva-Clamp cheering her on from the sidelines.
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PA (STOCK IMAGE)
Carriage driving is a discipline close to Louise’s heart, one she developed through a deep bond with her grandfather, Prince Philip, who shared her enthusiasm for the sport.
The late Duke of Edinburgh was himself a passionate and accomplished carriage driver, and the connection between the two over their mutual love of the pursuit became well known within royal circles.
Louise has carried that legacy forward with evident dedication, and her concentration during the Marathon section at the weekend underscored just how seriously she approaches the discipline.
The 22-year-old is regarded as a skilled competitor in the sport, and her focused demeanour throughout the West Sussex trials demonstrated the commitment she has maintained since first taking up the reins alongside her grandfather.
Carriage driving is a discipline close to Louise’s heart, one she developed through a deep bond with her grandfather, Prince Philip, who shared her enthusiasm for the sport.
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PA
The previous month saw Louise receive her Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award from her father, Prince Edward, who hosted the ceremony in his capacity as patron of the scheme originally established by Prince Philip in 1956.
The celebration took place at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the King’s official Scottish residence, where Edward, 61, welcomed young achievers from Scotland and the north of England.
Louise was joined at the Edinburgh reception by her mother, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, as well as da Silva-Clamp, with the young royal posing proudly alongside her parents before sitting beside Felix for the Duke’s address.
The award followed her graduation from St Andrews, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and International Relations, with both her parents and boyfriend in attendance.
The previous month saw Louise receive her Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award from her father, Prince Edward, who hosted the ceremony in his capacity as patron of the scheme originally established by Prince Philip in 1956.
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GETTY
Despite speculation that Louise might bolster the shrinking roster of working royals, she is instead set to take a gap year to weigh up her future.
Buckingham Palace has confirmed that her time off will involve a combination of work, volunteering and travel, though officials have declined to elaborate on her longer-term career plans.
The decision follows a well-established royal tradition. Prince William famously took a gap year after leaving Eton, during which he trained with the Welsh Guards in Belize, volunteered with Raleigh International in Chile, and worked on a British dairy farm.
Catherine undertook the same Raleigh International programme in Chile during her own gap year, while also studying painting in Florence and crewing boats in the Solent.