Lady Louise Windsor was back in the driving seat once again, as she took part in the final carriage driving meet at Windsor Great Park on Sunday.

The 22-year-old royal was pictured driving herself in her own car to travel to the competition, and was later joined by her proud mother, the Duchess of Edinburgh.

Lady Louise arrived wearing a white blouse, light-coloured trousers and brown ankle boots before throwing on a navy fleece, a gilet and her riding helmet.

Flanked by her mother, Lady Louise was all smiles as she steered the carriage around the field with her trusty pony for a second day in a row.

© Kelvin Bruce

Sophie, 61, chatted with her daughter as the pair made their way around the course in the autumnal sunshine. The Duchess, who lives close to Windsor at Bagshot Park, was dressed casually in a checked jacket, a grey knit, white jeans and brown boots.

Lady Louise has followed in her late grandmother, the Queen, and late grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh’s footsteps with her love of equestrian sports. She was taught to ride at an early age and took up carriage driving like her grandfather, Prince Philip.

© Kelvin Bruce

Prince Philip played polo until 1971, when he discovered carriage driving, and was credited with bringing the sport to the UK. He represented Britain in three European championships and six world championships.

Back in 2019, the Duke was pictured proudly watching his granddaughter compete in the Private Driving Singles carriage drive during the Royal Windsor Horse Show, where she achieved third place.

She inherited Philip’s driving ponies and carriage following his death in April 2021, and in 2022, she drove one of his carriages in front of the late Queen at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.

Gap year

Lady Louise, who is 17th in line to the throne, is now on a gap year after graduating from the University of St Andrews with a degree in English and international relations earlier this summer.

It’s understood that she is planning a mixture of working, volunteering and travelling, before looking at her future career options.

© University of St Andrews

She’s unlikely to carry out full-time royal duties, and she has reportedly expressed she is interested in pursuing a career in the military, diplomacy or law on her LinkedIn page.

Meanwhile, Lady Louise’s younger brother, James, Earl of Wessex, 18, has just enrolled at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester to study for a rural land and property management degree.

The youngster studied at the private Radley College in Oxfordshire but his A-Level results were not disclosed by Buckingham Palace in August.