James_Mountbatten-Windsor,_Viscount_Severn

James, Earl of Wessex

James, Earl of Wessex

Member of the British royal family (born 2007)

James Alexander Philip Theo Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of Wessex (born 17 December 2007) is the younger child and son of Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. He is the youngest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and the youngest nephew of King Charles III. At the time of his birth, he was 8th in line to the British throne. He is now 15th in line.

Quick Facts Earl of Wessex, Born ...

Infancy

James was born on 17 December 2007 at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey by caesarean section.[1][2] His full name, James Alexander Philip Theo, was announced on 21 December.[3]

James was baptised on 19 April 2008, in the private chapel of Windsor Castle by David Conner, Dean of Windsor,[4] witnessed by his godparents, Alastair Bruce, Duncan Bullivant, Thomas Hill, Denise Poulton and Jeanye Irwin,[5] and his grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.[6]

Education

From 2011 to 2019, James attended St George's School, Windsor Castle.[citation needed] Between 2019 and 2021, James attended Eagle House School, a coeducational preparatory school near Sandhurst, Berkshire.[7] He has also trained with St John Ambulance cadets.[8]

James is currently a year 11 pupil at the private Radley College in Oxfordshire.[9]

Official appearances

James's first formal royal engagement was, aged four, at the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant.[citation needed] In April 2015, James (then styled Viscount Severn) and his elder sister, Lady Louise, participated in their first overseas engagement by accompanying their parents on a trip to South Africa.[10]

He made his first appearance in the carriage procession at Trooping the Colour in 2016.[11] He subsequently appeared in the Trooping the Colour processions in 2019[12] and 2022.

In September 2020, he joined his parents to help the Great British Beach Clean at Southsea Beach in Hampshire, in support of the Marine Conservation Society.[13][14]

Following the memorial service for his grandfather Prince Philip on 29 March 2022,[15] Viscount Severn attended the Platinum Jubilee National Service of Thanksgiving[16][17] and the Platinum Party at the Palace in June 2022.[18]

On 17 September 2022, during the period of official mourning for his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, James joined his sister and six cousins to mount a 15-minute vigil around the coffin of the late Queen, as it lay in state at Westminster Hall.[19] On 19 September, Lord Severn joined other family members at the state funeral.[20]

On 6 May 2023, James (now Earl of Wessex) attended his uncle Charles III's coronation at Westminster Abbey, together with the rest of the royal family. During the procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace, he travelled in one of the horse-drawn coaches with his parents and sister, following which he appeared with his family on the balcony to watch a flypast. The next day they attended the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle.[21]

On 31 March 2024, James attended the Easter Mattins Service at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, with his mother and father. He was the only member of the younger generation of royals to attend.[22]

Titles, styles, and honours

Titles and styles

Further information: Mountbatten-Windsor

The title Viscount Severn alludes to the Welsh roots of Sophie's family.[23] James was accorded this courtesy title at birth, as heir apparent to his father's earldom.[24]

At birth, James automatically became a Prince of the United Kingdom due to letters patent issued in 1917 which assigned princely status and the style of Royal Highness to all male-line grandchildren of a sovereign.[25][26] However, when his parents married, Buckingham Palace announced that their children would be styled as the children of an earl, rather than as prince or princess.[27] In 2020, James's mother reaffirmed that James and his sister Louise retained the right to their royal titles and styles and could make a choice on whether to use them from the age of 18.[28]

On his father being elevated as Duke of Edinburgh, James became styled by courtesy as Earl of Wessex, now the family's senior subsidiary title.[29][30] The Dukedom of Edinburgh, being created as a life peerage, will become extinct upon his father's death, but as heir apparent to his father's hereditary peerages: Earl of Wessex, Earl of Forfar, and Viscount Severn, he is in line to succeed to the substantive title of Earl of Wessex, etc.[31]

Honours and decorations

See also: List of honours of the British royal family by country

James is eligible for the following medals:

In June 2008, to recognise Prince Edward's visit to the Canadian province of Manitoba, the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba named a lake in the north of the province after Viscount Severn called Lake James. James's sister, Lady Louise, was similarly honoured by lending her name to Lake Louise in the same province.[33]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Coke, Hope (6 May 2023). "Who is the new Earl of Wessex? James joins Prince Edward and the Duchess of Edinburgh at Westminster Abbey". tatler.com. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  2. [2]
    "Countess gives birth to baby boy". BBC News. 17 December 2007.
  3. [3]
    "Edward and Sophie name baby James". BBC News. 21 December 2007.
  4. [4]
    "Who is the new Earl of Wessex? James joins Prince Edward and the Duchess of Edinburgh at Westminster Abbey". Tatler. 12 February 2021.
  5. [5]
    "Announcement of the Arrangement for the Christening of Lord Severn". royal.uk. 15 April 2008. Archived from the original on 20 April 2008.
  6. [6]
    "Queen sees grandson's christening". BBC News. 19 April 2008.
  7. [7]
    Lamb, Christina. "Can Sophie, Countess of Wessex, steady the royal ship?". The Times. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  8. [8]
    "Youth Volunteering & First Aid Training – Cadets | St John Ambulance". www.sja.org.uk.
  9. [9]
    Russell, Rebecca (2 March 2024). "Reason James Wessex 'won't work for the Firm' – and who will inspire him". OK! Magazine.
  10. [10]
    "Lady Louise and James accompany mother Sophie on royal mission in South Africa". 11 April 2015.
  11. [11]
    "Trooping the colour on the Queen's 90th birthday – in pictures". The Guardian. 11 June 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  12. [12]
    "All the photos from Trooping the Colour 2019". HELLO!. 8 June 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  13. [13]
    Rice, Francesca (21 September 2020). "The Countess of Wessex looks cool and casual in jeans to litter-pick at the beach with her family". Good Housekeeping. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  14. [14]
    "Prince Edward and family spend sunny weekend on beach clean". Tatler. 21 September 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  15. [15]
    Scarsi, Alice (29 March 2022). "Lady Louise Windsor stuns royal fans during rare public appearance – 'what a beauty'". Express. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  16. [16]
    Hughes, Seren (2 June 2022). "Royal fans can't believe how grown up the Queen's youngest grandson looks". MyLondon.
  17. [17]
    "Who was at the Queen's Jubilee service of thanksgiving? Royal family joined by Harry, Meghan and politicians past and present". Sky News.
  18. [18]
    Coke, Hope (4 June 2022). "'You laugh with us and cry with us': Prince Charles pays heartfelt tribute to 'mummy' at historic Platinum Party". Tatler. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  19. [19]
    McCrum, Kirstie (17 September 2022). "Queen's grandchildren stand solemn vigil in Westminster Hall". WalesOnline. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  20. [20]
    "Queen's youngest grandchild James Viscount Severn, 14, attends funeral with sister". The Independent. 19 September 2022.
  21. [21]
    Stacey, Danielle (9 May 2023). "Lady Louise Windsor reunites with royal family at coronation after missing major event". Hello!. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  22. [22]
    "The Best Photos of the British Royal Family on Easter 2024". Town & Country. 31 March 2024.
  23. [23]
    "Wessex titles for Edward and Sophie". BBC News. 19 June 1999. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  24. [24]
    "Burke's Peerage". burkespeerage.com.
  25. [25]
    "Royal Styles and Titles of Great Britain: Documents". www.heraldica.org. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  26. [26]
    "No. 30428". The London Gazette. 14 December 1917. p. 13086.
  27. [27]
    UK Government News – 19th June, 1999: TITLE OF HRH THE PRINCE EDWARD (Accessed 18 January 2014)
  28. [28]
    "Queen Elizabeth's Grandchildren Will 'Work for a Living' and Won't Use HRH, Says Mom Sophie Wessex". People. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  29. [29]
    "Prince Edward given Duke of Edinburgh title previously held by his father Prince Philip". Sky News. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  30. [30]
    Davies, Caroline (10 March 2023). "King Charles gives Prince Edward 'Duke of Edinburgh' title". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  31. [31]
    Tominey, Camilla (10 March 2023). "Prince Edward may have the Duke of Edinburgh title – but getting it wasn't easy". The Telegraph. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  32. [32]
    "Coronation Medal to be awarded to Armed Forces and frontline workers | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
  33. [33]
    "Prince Edward begins Winnipeg visit". The Vancouver Sun. Canada. 2 June 2008. Archived from the original on 15 April 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
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