Tatler has released its annual Little Black Book, long regarded as a guide to Britain’s most eligible society figures. This year’s list is led by 18-year-old Albert Windsor, whose selection may appear unexpected at first glance. Yet his position within the royal family, as a cousin of King Charles and grandson of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, places him firmly within the upper ranks of British aristocracy.
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Albert, born in 2007 at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, is the eldest son of Lord Nicholas and Paola Frankopan. As the first royal baby to be baptised Catholic since 1688, he attracted attention early in life, although he largely grew up away from the UK in Rome with his two younger brothers. His re-emergence into public life has coincided with his 18th birthday and increasing interest from the press, particularly after he appeared alongside senior royals at the funeral of his grandmother, the Duchess of Kent.
Tatler reports that Albert is expected to attend the Parisian debutante and fashion event Le Bal later this month, gaining further visibility among Europe’s young aristocracy. His academic future has also become a point of speculation, with the possibility that he may follow his father and study Theology at Oxford. Such a move could easily draw public fascination, as seen during Prince William’s years at St Andrews, which famously led to a surge in applications.
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However, commentators note that life on the periphery of the royal family is not without challenges. While Albert himself is far removed from the pressures placed on senior working royals, recent remarks from Sophie Winkleman and past reflections from the Duchess of Sussex highlight the strains that can accompany royal visibility. Those charmed by Albert’s appearance at the top of Tatler’s list may do well to remember that pursuing a relationship with him means stepping, however lightly, into a world shaped by tradition, scrutiny and an enduring royal legacy.
