She has largely stayed out of the limelight, despite her glittering royal connections and status as heir to the Duke of Kent.
But Albert Windsor, who celebrated his 18th birthday just last month, has now suddenly found himself at the center of society’s attention – he was crowned Tatler’s ‘Hottest Young Eligible’ leader this week.
Albert was predicted to soon have the world at her feet as she joined the likes of “golden event girl” Lady Araminta Spencer-Churchill, a jet-setting Bhutanese prince and even Rod Stewart’s son.
The youngster, who has been described as a “dashing royal”, appears to be Britain’s latest eligible bachelor as the son of Lord Nicholas Windsor, son of the current Duke of Kent. She herself is a direct cousin of Queen Elizabeth II and Lady Nicholas Windsor.
He is also the great-great-grandson of King George V, and if it is believed that he could even follow in his father’s footsteps to study theology at Oxford, it is perhaps no surprise that he has been declared the ‘catch of the season’.
Last month, Albert, who grew up in Rome, made his “royal debut” – per Tatler – at the funeral of his beloved grandmother Katharine, Duchess of Kent, at Westminster Cathedral in London.
She was seen for the first time in the company of senior royals, including King Charles, Prince William and Kate – and, unsurprisingly, interest was piqued.
It looks set to mark the start of a much more public schedule as she joins the cliques at Paris’ Le Bal, the annual debutante and fashion ball, later this month. And the attention surrounding her only increased last month after reports said her parents have split after 19 years together.
Albert Windsor, 18, was this week dubbed society’s most ‘eligible’ bachelor (pictured last month) but has stayed out of the limelight for years
Last month, Albert (right) made his “society debut” – per Tatler – at the funeral of his beloved grandmother Katharine, Duchess of Kent. Pictured with his brother Leopold (left)
Born in 2007 at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, young Albert unknowingly made history within just a few weeks of his life.
He was baptized a Catholic after a formal ceremony in the Queen’s Chapel at St. James’s Palace. He was the first royal baby since 1688.
Her father, Lord Nicholas, 43, had lost his place in line to the throne when he converted to Catholicism in 2001 following the example of his mother Katharine, who died on September 4 aged 92.
Young Albert was also the first royal to share a name with the late Queen Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, who was known as Albert or Bertie before ascending to the throne.
A motion of Parliament was heard at the time of Albert’s birth: “This Parliament warmly congratulates Albert Louis Phillip Edward Windsor on his baptism as a Catholic.”
“The first member of the royal family to be baptized Catholic since 1688 and the so-called Glorious Revolution, when James II was driven from his crown and country for the birth and baptism of his son.”
Albert was growing up in Rome at the time with his two younger siblings – Leopold, now 16, and Louis, 11.
As a result, Albert and his brothers are all removed from the line of succession.
Last month, Albert (pictured second, top right) was seen for the first time in the company of senior royals, including King Charles, Prince William and Kate (centre)
Had they been in the Church of England, they would have been 37th, 38th and 39th respectively. However, they remain in the line of succession to the Duchy of Kent.
In childhood, the brothers have been in public only a few times, such as at the wedding of Lady Gabriella Windsor and her late husband Thomas Kingston.
Albert and Leopold were seen attending Georg Friedrich Ferdinand’s Prince of Prussia religious ceremony for Princess Sophie of Prussia in 2011, while Albert joined his mother at King Charles’ 60th birthday luncheon in 2008.
Before King Charles’ slimmed-down monarchy, Albert once joined a large member of the royal family on the balcony at events such as Trooping The Color, and in 2019 he wore a sling for a broken arm.
At 18, Albert seems to be getting more into society, but is likely to follow in his parents’ footsteps and largely stay out of the limelight.
Her father, Lord Nicholas Windsor, the youngest of Kent’s three children, has mostly flown under the radar despite his close relationship with senior members of the royal family.
She was christened at Windsor Castle in 1970 with her godparents including King Charles and the late Dr Donald Coggan, former Archbishop of Canterbury.
When he was 11, the royal was even chosen as one of Charles’s groomsmen at Diana Spencer’s wedding in 1981.
The Duke of Kent (front right) leaves after the Duchess of Kent’s Requiem Mass from Westminster Cathedral in central London
Albert is the son of Lord Nicholas Windsor (centre), the son of the Duke of Kent, who is Queen Elizabeth II’s cousin
Before King Charles’ slimmed-down monarchy, Albert once joined royals on the balcony for events such as Trooping The Color, wearing a sling for a broken arm in 2019 (pictured)
Over the years, she has appeared in several Buckingham Palace balcony photos alongside senior royals, and is said to occasionally attend other important events in the royal family calendar, such as Trooping The Color and the Christmas lunch.
Nicholas attended Westminster Under School and then Harrow School before moving on to Harris Manchester College, Oxford, where he studied theology.
He first met his Croatian wife Paola Doimi de Lupis at Frankopan Šubić Zrinski’s party in New York in 1999 to celebrate the millennium.
Paola has ancient ties to Croatian nobility and was known as a princess at the time of their marriage.
The couple became engaged in July 2006. After a civil ceremony in October 2006 at London Magistrates’ Court, they tied the knot in Catholic marriage on 4 November at St Stephen’s Abyssinian Church in the Vatican.
As required by the Royal Marriages Act of 1772, the Queen had to consent to the marriage – the first British royal wedding in the Vatican City.
Lady Nicholas-to-be told Vogue Magazine on her wedding day: “I adopted the Roman Catholic tradition that brides wear nothing on their wedding day: no tiaras, no earrings, not even an engagement ring.”
His conversion to Catholicism in 2001 made him the first male royal to become Catholic since Charles II.
Lord and Lady Nicholas Windsor (née Countess Paola Doimi di Delupis) with Albert and Leopold at the wedding of Prince Georg Friedrich Ferdinand of Prussia to Princess Sophie of Prussia in 2011
It was quite a change for the young king, who at the age of 18 had been found in possession of cannabis.
He was cautioned by police when officers found him in St James’s Park, but was released without charge.
According to one of his mother’s friends, the episode constituted a “major crisis”, and Nicholas was said to feel deeply ashamed, according to royal writer Mary Riddell.
Over the years, Lord Nicholas has been reported to have occasionally suffered from eating disorders and depression.
A Catholic convert, she has lost her right to inherit the British throne and has since made headlines for expressing strong anti-abortion views.
He once claimed that abortion is “worse than al-Qaeda” and a greater threat to Europe.
As he is not a working member of the royal family, Lord Nicholas spends much of his time on charity and works for anti-abortion groups.
Notably, the king’s godson was not among those selected to attend King Charles’ coronation on May 6.
Last month, the Daily Mail’s Richard Eden revealed that Paola and Lord Nicholas had split – after he failed to attend the Duchess of Kent’s funeral.
“It’s very sad, but the couple have been separated for some time,” a family friend told this newspaper.
– They no longer participate in family events together. Both are very conservative and do not like divorce, so apparently they will never divorce.
Albert joined his mother at King Charles’ 60th birthday lunch in 2008
Tatler’s annual list of eligible singles in its exclusive Little Black Book marks its prediction names we’ll be seeing everywhere in the new year.
Yesterday, the magazine announced its selection of Britain’s 200 most desirable – including Gen Z heirs, dukes, the ever-celebrating It Girls and athletes.
These well-heeled nepo babies come from some of the most powerful families in fashion, music, finance and sports, and have the world at their feet.
Albert was joined by “event golden girl” Lady Araminta Spencer-Churchill, who appears as the new cover star of the issue.
The 18-year-old daughter of the 12th Duke of Marlborough is juggling Olympic training with a passion for the arts while completing a degree in event management and preparing for Le Bal des Débutantes in Paris next month.
Her cover mate Gabriel Glendhill is on the fast track to the Winter Olympics, but his ‘Disney prince’ looks mean the 23-year-old skier is also likely to field offers from any modeling agent worth his salt.
Both are single and ready to mingle, just like the rest of their cohort, profiled by Tatler in their December issue.