She was born at the Palace of Versailles, and was her parents' fourth surviving daughter (the first, "Mademoiselle de Valois" died a year after birth). Prior to her marriage, she was known as "Mademoiselle de Montpensier". She grew up among one brother and five sisters. Because no one was much interested in her as a child, Louise Élisabeth received a poor education and seemed destined for marriage to some obscure German or Italian prince. Like her younger sister, Louise, she had a convent education. She was very close to her brother, Louis, Duke of Chartres at birth, who, upon the death of their father in 1723, would inherit the title of Duke of Orléans.