The grim truth about Prince Louis’ royal life

William and Kate’s youngest turns one this week — but despite his royal roots, the reality of his future life is far from glamorous.

On paper, being a royal tot seems like a plum gig.

On Tuesday, Prince Louis, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s third child will hit his first birthday. We will most likely be treated to a new shot of the Windsor sproglet, taken by his doting mother and keen photographer, Kate.

We can guess there will be some sort of private family celebration that involves cake and Prince George trying to knight the neighbours’ kids when William isn’t looking.

However, the life that Louis faces, while luxurious and privileged, will actually be a bit of a strange one.

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Little Prince Louis. Naw.

Princess Charlotte and Prince George hold the hands of their father, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, as they arrive at the Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, London for the christening of their brother, Prince Louis, who is being carried by their mother, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge on July 09, 2018 in London, England. Picture: Dominic Lipinski

In the royal family, the pecking order (AKA the line of succession) is everything.

Precedence dictates who has to curtsy to whom when everyone turns up for Christmas or Easter (suffice to say there is A LOT of bobbing and bowing that goes on) and even the order you get to walk to church.

As the third son of the future King, Louis might be an HRH but the reality is that that is quite far down the totem pole and as such his adult life will be both sadly constrained (with media watching his every move and no real chance for a proper career) and yet lacking in any real definition.

Prince George, as the future Prince of Wales and then King, will face a lifetime of duty.

From his late teen years, his role will be completely dictated by the rigours and responsibilities that come with one day assuming the Crown. His trajectory is completely and utterly certain.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte will both enjoy far more glamorous rolls.

With Princess Charlotte, as the future King’s only daughter (currently) we can make some educated guesses.

As a princess who seems to love the limelight, she will enjoy a much more glamorous role. She will likely be feted internationally, will probably enjoy huge public popularity and her tastes, choices and interests will help sell magazines, shoes and beauty products for decades to come.

But what about Louis?

He is the spare to the spare and there is no clear cut role for him to assume. On one hand, he will be expected to undertake royal duties and to traverse the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth unveiling plaques and opening things like regional pumping stations and Home Counties Scout halls.

He will be lumped with the second or third-rate official events in the far flung corners and which George and Charlotte will never be expected to trek to.

He will have to do all this with a smile and with charm and never once betray any resentment he might feel about how his lot in life compares to that of his older brother and sister.

Just look at his great-uncle, the Duke of York.

Prince Andrew’s various attempts at forging an identity as an adult clashed with the sense of entitlement instilled in him since his childhood.

While he was raised as the son of the monarch, in adulthood his attempts at forging an identity and position have dramatically clashed with the sense of entitlement instilled in him since birth.

After a dashing career in the navy in the ‘80s, Andy’s royal CV has been nothing if not controversial.

After being named as Britain’s “special envoy” for trade and investment in 2001 he then spent a decade flitting around the world. Attention has mostly been on the luxury travel billed to the taxpayer. Quite what he does is a bit of a mystery.

As the third son of the future King, Louis’ royal life will be both constrained and lacking definition.

Then there is the question of money.

Louis will enjoy a privileged childhood and when William becomes the Prince of Wales, it will be even more opulent — Wills will also assume ownership of the Duchy of Cornwall, valued about $1.3 billion.

In turn, Prince George will get to enjoy this fortune and the huge annual revenue it brings in when he becomes the Prince of Wales.

And Louis?

Well, his finances will be a bit more precarious. While he will hardly ever have to put his name down at the local Norfolk Maccas for some Saturday shifts for spending money, he will be expected to live on a LOT less than his brother and will depend solely on a six-figure sovereign grant to pay for staff, clothing and family.

Yes, it will be far more than we ever earn however there is a BIG difference between the roughly $39 million the Duchy of Cornwall generates currently and the far less than $1 million Andrew gets.

So, when Louis gets held over his cake next week while Kate blows out his candles, I wish him many happy returns because his future is not going to be an easy one.

Daniela Elser is a royal expert and freelance writer with 20 years’ experience who has written for some of Australia’s best print and digital media brands | Continue the conversation @DanielaElser