BY EMILY FERGUSON, ROYAL EDITOR
Though he’s a regular at set piece royal events such as Trooping the Colour and the Christmas and Easter church services, not much is known about James, Earl of Wessex. He’s the youngest child of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and is 17th in the line of succession, having recently been bumped down by the arrival of Princess Eugenie’s baby girl and being eighth in line at birth.
James has held the title of Earl of Wessex since 2023, having been elevated from Viscount Severn after his dad took on the dukedom. The royal turned 18 at the end of last year and has just finished studying at Radley College, an independent boarding school in Oxfordshire.
But despite his links to the crown, James’s parents were adamant that he would have as normal an upbringing as possible. This is why Edward and Sophie left the decision of titles up to them, aware of the burden and expectation that comes with them.
