James, Earl of Wessex, the youngest grandchild of the late Queen Elizabeth II, marks his 17th birthday today.
Despite being a member of the British royal family, James has grown up largely out of the public eye, thanks to the efforts of his parents, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.
James, Earl of Wessex Turns 17
Born on December 17, 2007, James Alexander Philip Theo Mountbatten-Windsor came into the world at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey.
His middle names carry deep family significance: Philip honors his grandfather, Prince Philip, while Theo is a nod to Sophie’s grandfather.
From birth, James held the title Viscount Severn, a subsidiary title of his father, and in March 2023, he became the Earl of Wessex after Prince Edward assumed the title of Duke of Edinburgh.
A Quiet Childhood and Family Life
Unlike many of his royal cousins, James and his older sister, Lady Louise Windsor, have been raised with as much privacy as possible.
Their parents deliberately chose not to give them the titles of prince or princess, hoping to spare them the pressures that often accompany royal status.
Instead, James has lived a largely normal life at Bagshot Park, a 17th-century estate near Windsor.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, once shared that her children live very typical lives. They enjoy things like “sleepovers, walking the dogs, and spending time with friends.” She explained in a 2020 interview that they attend regular schools and lead grounded lives, despite their royal lineage.
“I guess not everyone’s grandparents live in a castle, but when they’re with the Queen, she’s just their grandmother,” she remarked.
James attended Eagle House and St. George’s School, both independent prep schools near his family home.
Following Family Traditions
Like his cousins, Prince William and Prince Harry, James seems to have a keen interest in driving. Both William and Harry passed their driving tests on their first attempts shortly after turning 17, and James may soon follow suit.
James was first seen behind the wheel at an early age—albeit under supervision. In 2018, at just 10 years old, he was photographed driving around the private grounds of Windsor.
While it was reported that he was sitting on someone’s lap, the moment hinted at his early curiosity about cars.
A year later, in 2019, he was spotted again behind the wheel, this time driving a Land Rover around Windsor Castle grounds with his mother, Sophie, by his side.
James in the Line of Succession
At the time of his birth, James was eighth in line to the British throne, ahead of his sister Louise. However, the introduction of the Succession to the Crown Act (2013) brought significant changes.
The law ensures that gender no longer determines the order of succession, but it only applies to those born after October 28, 2011. As a result, James maintains his place ahead of Lady Louise in the royal line, despite being the younger sibling.
Rare Public Appearances
Although James is rarely seen in public, he has participated in a few key royal events. His first overseas engagement was in 2015, when he joined his family on a trip to South Africa to support the Ubunye Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping rural communities.
Sophie, a patron of the foundation, said it was important for her children to witness firsthand the need for support in underprivileged areas.
James’s most prominent appearance came in 2022 following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Alongside his cousins, including Prince William, Prince Harry, Princess Beatrice, and Zara Tindall, James participated in a vigil by the Queen’s coffin at Westminster Hall. He also attended her state funeral with his family, standing respectfully alongside the other grandchildren of the late monarch.
More recently, James appeared at the Easter Service at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, where he was noted for his height, now towering over his mother and nearly matching his father, Prince Edward, who stands at six feet tall.