He’s remained largely out of the spotlight despite sparkling royal connections and his position as a successor to the Dukedom of Kent.
But Albert Windsor, who celebrated his 18th birthday just last month, has now suddenly found himself at the centre of society’s interest – having been crowned the leader of Tatler‘s ‘hottest young eligibles’ this week.
Joining the likes of ‘eventing golden girl’ Lady Araminta Spencer-Churchill, a jet-setting Bhutanese prince, and even Rod Stewart‘s son, Albert was forecast to soon have the world at his feet.
Described as a ‘dashing royal’, the youngster appears to be Britain’s newest most eligible bachelor as the son of Lord Nicholas Windsor, son of the current Duke of Kent – who himself is the direct cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, and Lady Nicholas Windsor.
He’s also the great-great-grandson of King George V and, with speculation he could even follow in his father’s footsteps to study Theology at Oxford, it’s perhaps no surprise he’s 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.
He was seen, for the first time, in the company of senior royals including King Charles, Prince William and Kate – and, unsurprisingly, interest piqued.
It seems to mark the start of a far more public schedule, as he’s set to join cliques at Le Bal in Paris, the annual debutante and fashion ball, later this month. And the attention swirling around him only increased last month following reports that his parents have split following 19 years together.
Albert Windsor, 18, was dubbed society’s ‘most eligible’ bachelor this week (pictured last month) – but he’s stayed out of the spotlight 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 the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, a young Albert unknowingly made history within just weeks of his life.
He was baptised as a Catholic after an official ceremony in the Queen’s Chapel in St. James’ Palace, the first royal baby to do this since 1688.
His father, Lord Nicholas, 43, had forfeited his place in the 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.
The young Albert was also the first royal to share the name with the late Queen Elizbeth’s father King George VI, known as Albert or Bertie before taking the throne.
A motion from Parliament read at the time of Albert’s birth: ‘This House extends its warmest congratulations on the occasion of the baptism of Albert Louis Phillip Edward Windsor as a Catholic.’
‘The first member of the Royal family to be baptised a Catholic since 1688 and the so-called Glorious Revolution when James II was chased away from his Crown and country on account of the birth and baptism of his son.’
Albert was then raised in Rome, alongside his two younger siblings – Leopold, now 16, and Louis, 11.
As a result, Albert and his brothers have all been 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 be 37th, 38th and 39th respectively. They remain in the line of succession to the Dukedom of Kent, however.
During their childhood, the brothers have only been pictured in public a handful of times, such as the wedding of Lady Gabriella Windsor and her late husband Thomas Kingston.
Albert and Leopold were seen attending the religious ceremony of Georg Friedrich Ferdinand Prince of Prussia to Princess Sophie of Prussia in 2011, while Albert joined his mother for King Charles’ 60th birthday lunch in 2008.
Prior to King Charles’s slimmed down monarchy, Albert once joined the extended members of the royal family on the balcony for events such as Trooping The Colour, and sported a sling for a broken arm in 2019.
Since turning 18, Albert appears to be making more of an entrance into society but it’s likely will opt to follow in the footsteps of his parents and remain largely out of the spotlight.
His father, Lord Nicholas Windsor, the youngest of the three Kent children, has mostly flown under the radar, despite his close links to senior members of the royal family.
He was baptised at Windsor Castle in 1970, with his godparents including King Charles and the late Dr Donald Coggan, former Archbishop of Canterbury.
When he was 11 years old, the royal was even chosen to serve as one of Charles’s pageboys for the wedding to Diana Spencer in 1981.
The Duke of Kent (front right) leaves after the Requiem Mass service for the Duchess of Kent, at Westminster Cathedral, central London
Albert is the son of Lord Nicholas Windsor (centre), son of the Duke of Kent, who is the cousin of Queen Elizabeth II
Over the years, he has appeared in multiple Buckingham Palace balcony pictures alongside senior royals, and is said to occasionally attend other staple events in the royal family calendar such as Trooping The Colour 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 Frankopan Šubić Zrinski at a party in New York in 1999 to mark the Millennium.
Paola has ancient links to Croatian nobility, and was known as a princess at the time of their marriage.
The pair became engaged in July 2006. Following a civil ceremony in October 2006 at a London registry office, they had a Catholic marriage on November 4 in the Church of St Stephen of the Abyssinians in the Vatican.
As required by the Royal Marriages Act 1772, the Queen had to consent to the marriage – the first British royal wedding to take place within the Vatican City State.
The future Lady Nicholas told Vogue Magazine at the time of her wedding: ‘I embraced the Roman patrician Catholic tradition that brides do not wear any on their wedding day: no tiaras, no earrings, not even an engagement ring.’
His conversion to Catholicism in 2001 made him the first male-blood royal to become Catholic since Charles II.
Lord and Lady Nicholas Windsor (born Countess Paola Doimi di Delupis) with Albert and Leopold at the wedding of Georg Friedrich Ferdinand Prince of Prussia to Princess Sophie of Prussia in 2011
It was quite the change for the young royal who, at 18, had been found to be in possession of cannabis.
He was cautioned by police when by police who found him in St James’s Park, but was freed without charge.
The episode, according to one of his mother’s friends, constituted a ‘great crisis’ and Nicholas was said to feel deeply ashamed, according to royal author Mary Riddell.
Over the years, Lord Nicholas has been reported to have occasionally suffered from eating disorders and depression.
As a Catholic convert, he has forfeited his right of succession to the British throne and has since made headlines for vocalising strong anti-abortion views.
At once point he claimed that abortion is ‘worse than al-Qaeda’ and a greater threat t Europe.
As he is not a working member of the Royal Family, Lord Nicholas spends much of his time on charity work and working for anti-abortion groups.
Notably, the King’s godson was not among those selected to attend King Charles’ Coronation on May 6.
Last month, it was revealed by the Daily Mail’s Richard Eden that Paola and Lord Nicholas had separated – after she didn’t attend the Duchess of Kent’s funeral.
‘It’s very sad, but the couple have been separated for some time,’ a friend of the family told this newspaper.
‘They no longer attend family events together. Both are very conservative and dislike divorce, so apparently they will never actually get divorced.’
Albert joined his mother for King Charles’ 60th birthday lunch in 2008
Tatler’s annual list of eligible singles in its exclusive Little Black Book marks its forecast for the names we’re going to see everywhere in the new year.
The magazine unveiled its choice selection of 200 of Britain’s most desirable yesterday – including Gen Z heiresses, dukes-in-waiting, perennially partying It Girls and athletes.
These well-heeled nepo babies come from some of the most influential families across fashion, music, finance and sport, with the world at their feet.
Albert was joined by ‘eventing golden girl’ Lady Araminta Spencer-Churchill, who appears as the issue’s fresh-faced cover star.
The 18-year-old daughter of the 12th Duke of Marlborough is juggling Olympic training with a passion for art while pursuing a degree in event management and preparing for the Le Bal des Débutantes in Paris next month.
Her co-cover star, Gabriel Glendhill is on the fast track to the Winter Olympics, but his ‘Disney prince’ good looks mean the 23-year-old skier is also likely fielding offers from every modelling agent worth their salt.
Both of them are single and ready to mingle, just like the rest of their cohort that is published by Tatler in its December issue.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.celebrity.land.co.uk ’
