James, Earl of Wessex, made a rare public appearance at the historic Royal Windsor Horse Show last week.
James, formerly Viscount Severn, looked every inch the royal in a navy suit and striped tie as he soaked in the sights with his parents, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. Unlike his older sister, Lady Louise, The Earl of Wessex, 16, did not work the event. That is not to say that James was not partaking in family tradition. The young Earl, who is 15th in line of the throne, was spotted with a dapper-looking signet ring on his finger.
It is likely, say royal experts, that James’ ring will bear the same insignia as his father – a crown positioned above the initial ‘J’. The Duke of Edinburgh, like his brother King Charles, does not take off his signet ring, which jewellery historian Helen Dimmick has called a ‘very personal and symbolic jewel’.
James, Earl of Wessex, was born by caesarean section at Frimley Park Hospital on 17 December 2007 to Sophie and Edward. Despite being younger than his sister, Louise, he took her place as eighth in line to the throne, due to ancient rules of primogeniture, which prioritise male children in the order of succession. The rule would later be overturned by the Succession of the Crown Act in 2013 – introduced ahead of the birth of Prince Goerge to allow eldest children to retain their position in the order, regardless of gender.
James is one of the youngest members of the royal family, 30 years younger than his eldest cousin, Peter Phillips, the son of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips. His other royal cousins include Prince William, Prince Harry, and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
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Unlike those cousins, however, James was not assigned princely status at birth, with Buckingham Palace announcing after Edward and Sophie’s 1999 marriage that any future children would be styled as the child of an earl, rather than the child of a prince. Discussing the decision with the Sunday Times in 2022, Sophie, then Countess of Wessex said: ‘We try to bring them up with the understanding that they are very likely to have to work for a living … hence we made the decision not to use HRH titles. They have them and can decide to use them from 18, but it’s highly unlikely.’ 19-year-old Lady Louise has continued to refrain from donning the HRH styling.
The statement is characteristic of the pragmatic upbringing enjoyed by the Earl of Wessex and his sister. On their first royal engagement, when James was aged just seven, the two joined their parents on a visit to the Ubunye Foundation in South Africa, a rural development fund patronised by their mother. Sophie said at the time: ‘It’s very important for my children to see immediately from the moment that they come to South Africa that it’s not just about wonderful, beautiful animals and beautiful scenery – there is a huge need to support, protect, and nurture the communities that live around and within these beautiful surroundings.’
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Reportedly educated at two prep schools near his family home in Windsor, James – like his elder sister, who is currently studying English Literature at the University of St. Andrews – has some major exams coming up, which will no doubt have been on his mind as he accompanied his mother, who recently returned from a tour of Ukraine, to the Royal Horse Show. Then again, the jumping and driving at Windsor has always been a favourite way to unwind for the royals. Since the first show in 1943 – established to raise money during the Second World War – the family have been avid attendees. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother) brought the young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret to watch the show jumping and dressage. Her late Majesty won first place in the Pony and Dogcart class. It remains a highlight in the royal calendar, with the Duchess of Edinburgh offering warm embraces – and even a dance or two – as she got stuck in with the days of eventing, and King Charles making an appearance just days after his return to public-facing duties as he undergoes cancer treatment.
There have been calls for Prince William to consider promoting James and Louise to full-time working royals when he becomes King. For now, the youngest of the royals maintains a sparse schedule of public-facing responsibilities as he completes his education. He was, however, praised for his stoic vigil over his Grandmother’s coffin after the Late Queen’s death in 2022, which he attended just weeks after he joined his family to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee. Either way, it is clear that the Earl of Wessex feels equally at home at Royal Windsor as the generations before him.
