Prince Edward is missing his son’s 17th birthday today because of prior royal commitments.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s youngest, James, Earl of Wessex, will be celebrating his birthday while Edward carries out solo engagements in Bahrain and Kuwait in the Middle East.
The visit to Kuwait coincides with the conclusion of the UK and Kuwait’s joint celebrations, marking 125 years of official diplomatic relations and the preparations for the next year, to commemorate 250 years since the beginning of their trading ties.
It remains unclear whether James will be enjoying his special day with his sister, Lady Louise Windsor and mother, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, but it is thought the family will all be together to celebrate Christmas festivities at Sandringham, Norfolk.
James is currently studying at school in Surrey and will face important A-level exams next year. He was absent from King Charles’s Trooping the Colour parade in June, possibly due to his GCSE timetable.
Following his new title as the Earl of Wessex in 2023, the young Earl has been making more public appearances than before.
Like his sister Lady Louise Windsor, James has grown up mostly out of the spotlight, although he joins his parents, for high-profile engagements such as the King’s Coronation.
This year, he only joined the Royal Family publicly on March 31 to attend the traditional Easter Sunday Mattins Service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.
He was also spotted two months later when he attended the Royal Windsor Horse Show. Many are hoping he’ll join the royals again on Christmas Day in Sandringham in a few weeks, just like last year.
Born at Frimley Park Hospital on December 17, 2007, James is the second child and only son of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. He was the youngest of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s eight grandchildren.
His full name is James Alexander Philip Theo Mountbatten-Windsor, with a nod to his late grandfather.
Duchess Sophie, 59, has previously spoken about her children’s futures post-education, growing up. She told the Sunday Times in 2020: “We try to bring them up with the understanding they are very likely to have to work for a living.”
She added: “Hence we made the decision not to use HRH titles. They have them and can decide to use them from 18, but I think it’s highly unlikely.”
In March 2023, James took over his father’s former title, Earl of Wessex. This significant milestone occurred after Edward and Sophie became the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh on Prince Edward’s 59th birthday.
Even though the Earl of Wessex is a hereditary title, the Duke of Edinburgh is not. This means, upon Edward’s passing, the dukedom will not be passed to his children, but will instead revert back to the Crown.
James currently lives with his parents at the family home of Bagshot Park in Surrey. It is only 11 miles from Windsor, which is conveniently close to Windsor Castle, and also now near to the Prince and Princess of Wales’s home at Adelaide Cottage.
