Early Life
Lady Louise was delivered, prematurely, on 8 November 2003 (at 23:32 GMT), by the Royal Surgeon/Gynaecologist Marcus Setchell at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey, after her mother was rushed there by ambulance from the couple's home at Bagshot Park, Surrey. She was delivered by emergency Caesarean section, necessitated by a placental abruption, causing severe blood loss to both child and mother, before her December due-date. The Countess of Wessex had previously suffered an ectopic pregnancy. Prince Edward was not present for the birth because it came so suddenly. Lady Louise was transferred to a neo-natal unit in St George's Hospital, Tooting, London as a precaution. Meanwhile, the Countess remained at Frimley Park Hospital until she was well enough to be discharged.
Lady Louise was discharged from hospital on 23 November and her name was announced on 27 November. She was baptised in the Private Chapel of Windsor Castle on 24 April 2004 and her godparents were: the Lady Alexandra Etherington, the Lady Sarah Chatto, the Lord Ivar Mountbatten, Rupert Elliott, and Mrs Urs Schwarzenbach.
Lady Louise is ninth in the line of succession to the thrones of the Commonwealth realms. Until her birth, the first ten positions in the order of succession remained unchanged for over 13 years after the birth of her cousin, Princess Eugenie of York in 1990.
Lady Louise was born with the eye disorder exotropia. In January 2006 it was reported that Lady Louise had undergone a 30-minute operation under general anaesthetic to correct the problem, but in 2009 it was once again reported that her parents had decided against this treatment. An eight-year-old Lady Louise broke her left arm when she fell off her pony while riding at the Queen's estate at Windsor on 11 April 2012. She was treated at a hospital, but was released the same day. She was wearing a hard hat and safety back brace at the time of the accident and didn't sustain any other injuries. Doctors said she would not require further surgery. Her mother cancelled her duties for the day to stay with her, but her father continued with his daily schedule after hearing that Lady Louise's injuries were not serious.
Read more about this topic: Lady Louise Windsor
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