Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor hasn’t had a moment to celebrate. Just one day after graduating from St Andrews, Prince Edward’s daughter added another achievement to her list by receiving the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award at a ceremony held at Holyroodhouse Palace. And what made it special was who presented the medal to her: none other than her own father, the program’s patron, in front of hundreds of young people who had also completed the same challenge.
This award isn’t simply handed out; you have to earn it through months of volunteering, physical challenges, an expedition, and even living with strangers.
What did Lady Louise wear to the ceremony?
True to her understated style, Lady Louise chose a satin midi dress—the Kristin model from Hobbs—in a shade of thyme green that closely mirrored her mother’s taste. Sophie of Edinburgh, on the other hand, chose a long linen dress with ruffles and a floral print by Zimmermann, a look that suited her beautifully.
But what really sparked conversation wasn’t the clothing; it was the hair. Lady Louise, who had always worn long, wavy hair, showed up with a straight shoulder-length cut, while Sophie sported a bob above the collarbone. The resemblance between mother and daughter, as previously noted, became even more pronounced with this nearly identical change in style.
There’s something lovely about this year also marking the 70th anniversary of the program, which was created by her grandfather, Prince Philip. Prince Edward has led this endeavor for four decades, so seeing his daughter receive the award from his own hands completes a family circle that likely means more than official photos can convey.
With college and this award now behind her, Louise is entering a new chapter. She will take a gap year, during which she plans to combine work, volunteering, and travel, before deciding which career path to pursue.