Lady Louise Graduates from the University of St. Andrews, Just Like Cousin Prince William

Janine HenniThu, July 2, 2026 at 2:16 PM UTC

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Lady Louise on May 15, 2026Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty -

Lady Louise celebrated her graduation from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland

The school also counts Prince William and Kate Middleton as alumni

King Charles' niece plans to take a gap year before pursuing career opportunities

There's another graduate in the British royal family, as Lady Louise has completed college!

The daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, graduated from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland with a degree in English on Thursday, July 2.

Louise, 22, walked across the stage sporting the school's traditional graduation skirt, shirt and gown, as seen in a video shared on social media by Hello! magazine. Rather than using her royal title, she was announced as "Louise Mountbatten-Windsor," using the last name for members of the British royal family.

Lady Louise followed her cousin Prince William in attending the University of St. Andrews, where the Prince of Wales, 44, famously met his now-wife, Kate Middleton, in 2001.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh's daughter began at the school in September 2022, and it was announced that she planned to study English.

Louise's time at the university was kept private, as it was for William, giving her the room to enjoy a normal undergraduate life.

Lady Louise at the Royal Windsor Horse Show on May 17, 2026Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty

Lady Louise is expected to take a gap year after graduating, before exploring further career opportunities. Gap years are a popular option for young people in the U.K. and other countries, giving participants a chance to travel, volunteer or work after school before committing to their next move.

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Louise has another special occasion on the calendar this week: accepting her Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award from her father during a Gold Award bash at the Palace of the Holyroodhouse, King Charles' official royal residence in Scotland, during Royal Week.

The late Prince Philip, Louise's grandfather who was known as the Duke of Edinburgh before his title was passed down to his youngest son, founded the Duke of Edinburgh Awards in the 1950s as a program for young men to set goals to reach their full potential. The initiative soon expanded to include young women, and millions of young people have since participated in the program globally, according to the royal family's website.

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Lady Louise will join Princess Kate and her father as Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award holders.

While she has the option, Louise has not publicly adopted a royal title or Her Royal Highness styling since turning 18, and her younger brother, James, Earl of Wessex, didn't tap into that status when he turned 18 in 2025, either.

Louise and James are not working members of the royal family, and their parents gave them the option of choosing whether they'd like to use their royal titles when they came of age.

Speaking to The Sunday Times in 2020, Sophie said, "We try to bring them up with the understanding they are very likely to have to work for a living. 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."

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