The Queen's seventh grandchild, Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary Windsor is the eldest child of The Earl of Wessex and Sophie, Countess of Wessex. She is ninth in line to the throne.

She was on born on 8 November 2003. She was a month premature, and remained in hospital - in Frimley Park, Surrey - for nearly three weeks before she was allowed home.

Upon the Earl and Countess of Wessex's marriage it had been decided that their children would not be given the titles of HRH.  Louise was instead given the title accorded to a daughter of an earl, that of Lady - a form of address that is more customary for a daughter of a peer than the daughter of a prince.

Louise was christened in the private chapel at Windsor on 24 April 2004. She wore the 163-year-old christening gown, created for a daughter of Queen Victoria.

Louise was born with the eye disorder exotropia. In January 2006 it was unofficially revealed that she had undergone a 30-minute operation under general anaesthetic to correct the problem.

Louise's first public appearance was during The Queen's Christmas broadcast in 2004, when she was shown in the arms of her mother inspecting the Christmas tree.

She was once again in the public eye on 29 April 2011, when she was one of Catherine Middleton's four bridesmaids.

See Forms of Address: Daughters of an Earl

See Royal Biographies: Lady Louise Windsor

• Share online