Queen’s granddaughter Lady Louise Windsor has been earning £6.83 an hour working at garden centre

THE Queen’s granddaughter has been working in a near minimum wage job this summer at a garden centre.

Lady Louise Windsor, 18, took the role while waiting for her A-level results, which yesterday earned her a place at St Andrews University.

A shopper said: “I knew the cost-of-living crisis was bad, but I didn’t think I’d ever see a grandchild of the Queen working in a garden centre.”

Hard-working Lady Louise knuckled down to a garden centre job for ­little more than £6.83 an hour as she waited for exam results.

Louise, who is Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex’s daughter, helped out on the tills, greeted customers and pruned and potted plants.

A shopper, who was served by the royal, said: “I couldn’t believe it was Lady Louise — I had to look twice.

“She is a really modest and sweet young woman who is polite and attentive to customers. She seemed to be loving the job.

“You’d never imagine the Queen’s grand-daughter would take on a role working behind a till.”

Another customer added: “The staff seemed to adore her.

“It’s not every day you buy your begonias off a royal.”

Minimum wage for 18-year-olds is currently £6.83 an hour and as Louise has limited work experience it is unlikely she was paid much more than that — despite being 16th in line to the throne.

Louise’s parents live in a £30million mansion in Bagshot Park, Surrey.

She was working at the centre for several days a week after finishing her A-levels in June.

Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, said: “Isn’t it wonderful the Queen’s granddaughter rolled her sleeves up and got her hands dirty with a summer job before going to university — just like any other normal teenager.”

Louise was with her family and the Queen, 96, at Balmoral in the Scottish Highlands when she received her results yesterday.

A spokesman for her confirmed she will start at St Andrews University in Fife next month to study English.

It is thought that Louise took A-levels in English, history, politics and drama.

Palace aides did not reveal her grades. But to study English BA at St Andrews, undergraduates must get at least two As and two Bs.

Lady Louise — who rejected the chance to become a working member of the Royal Family when she turned 18 last November — is not expected to return to the garden centre as she prepares to move north of the border.

The Palace did not wish to comment.