The son of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, James Alexander Philip Theo Mountbatten-Windsor has today turned 18, prompting fresh speculation over his future as a royal.
The youngest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II enters adulthood as one of the most enigmatic members of the royal family, largely because his parents went to great lengths to give both their children a ‘normal’ upbringing.
Royal commentators know little about whether James will follow the footsteps of his older sister Lady Louise Windsor, 22, and attend the University of St Andrews or step into the public arena as a working royal.
His mother’s own words echo that uncertainty, with Sophie, 60, once admitting she could clearly see the path her daughter was taking but remained unsure what her son might ultimately choose.
‘Louise is working hard and will do A-levels. I hope she goes to university. I wouldn’t force her, but if she wants to. She’s quite clever, so I think probably,’ Sophie told The Times in 2020.
‘Whereas James I don’t know,’ she added.
Sophie also told the newspaper that the siblings are free to adopt HRH titles once they turn 18, but noted it was ‘highly unlikely’ they would do so, in what has been an accurate prediction for Lady Louise.
Louise and James are free to adopt HRH titles once they turn 18, but it was ‘highly unlikely’ they would do so – so far, a correct prediction of Lady Louise
James, Viscount Severn and Lady Louise Windsor arrive at Westminster Abbey for the funeral service for their late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II
That contrast has placed Lady Louise firmly in the spotlight as royal experts increasingly suggest that Prince William might eventually look to the younger generation, particularly the Mountbatten-Windsor siblings, to bolster the monarchy.
Her decision to study English at St Andrews, the same Scottish university where William and Kate famously met, has added fuel to the idea that she could become an important public-facing figure once she graduates.
Royal author and expert Christopher Wilson described Louise as a ‘dark-horse contender’ and even the monarchy’s possible ‘secret weapon,’ noting she is an articulate young woman who could rejuvenate the institution when needed.
Her growing promise has naturally led many to wonder whether her younger brother may decide to follow the same educational path, even though no hints have been given about where he hopes to study.
With St Andrews increasingly associated with duty, stability, and continuity, any move by James towards the university would immediately be interpreted as a symbolic step into the public eye.
Some observers believe that when Prince William eventually becomes King, he may turn to his cousins, including Lady Louise and James, to share the workload.
James’ understated character is thought to be an asset, offering William an option that is both dependable and uncontroversial.
Growing up three decades behind his eldest cousin, Peter Phillips, James had a very different childhood than that of his cousins; one shaped more by fishing in the country, sleepovers with friends and normal school runs than red carpets or balcony appearances.
‘What’s normal? They go to a regular school,’ Sophie shared.
Growing up three decades behind his eldest cousin, Peter Phillips, James had a very different childhood than that of his cousins. Seen here with his mother at Bristol Zoo, 2019
James and his father, Prince Edward, collecting rubbish on Southsea Beath, Portsmouth, 2020
‘They go to friends for sleepovers and parties. At weekends we do lots of dog walking and stay with friends.
‘I guess not everyone’s grandparents live in a castle, but where you are going is not the important part, or who they are. When they are with the Queen, she is their grandmother.’
Edward and Sophie’s decision to keep their children largely out of the public eye was made long before they were born.
When they married, they chose, with permission from the Queen, that their future children would not have prince and princess titles.
Upon birth, James was named Viscount Severn, after the River Severn in Wales as a nod to his mother’s Welsh heritage, and then became Earl of Wessex when Edward and Sophie were made the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
The Duke of Edinburgh title itself will not pass down to James, leaving his long-term role undefined.
The move was made in an effort to relieve Louise and James of the burdens that come with royal titles.
‘We try to bring them up with the understanding that they are very likely to have to work for a living,’ Sophie explained.
‘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.’
Viscount Severn with his sister Lady Louise and his cousins in Westminster Hall for a vigil at the coffin of the late Queen Elizabeth II
James has made few public appearances throughout his life, however, he did make show at a handful of events in honour of Elizabeth and Philip
Their strategy has meant that, unlike many heirs of his generation, James has been able to pass unnoticed through day-to-day life, blending in amongst his peers.
Radley College, where he is currently studying, has provided a structured but relatively sheltered environment, allowing him to grow up without any expectation to perform for the cameras.
However, he was eighth in line to the throne when James was born before sliding down to 15th on the line of succession as cousins William, Harry, Beatrice, and Eugenie started their families.
James’s heritage still carries lasting significance since he and Lady Louise became the first royal grandchildren to use the surname Mountbatten-Windsor in a tribute to their grandfather, the late Prince Philip.
James further delighted his grandparents with his love for fly fishing, an activity he regularly enjoys while summering with his relatives in Scotland and one famously beloved by his great-grandmother, the Queen Mother.
Growing up living with his parents at the family home of Bagshot Park in Surrey, just 11 miles from Windsor Castle, meant James and his sister spent a significant amount of time with the Queen and Philip.
Lady Louise has even been referred to as Prince Philip’s ‘favourite grandchild’.
James has made few public appearances throughout his life, including his grandmother’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, at her state funeral, as well as Prince Philip’s memorial service in Scotland.
Whether James chooses university or immediate work, a private life or a semi-public one, will reveal much about the direction the monarchy expects its younger members to take
Whether he chooses university or immediate work, a private life or a semi-public one, will reveal much about the direction the monarchy expects its younger members to take.
If St Andrews becomes his next stop, the choice would be read not just as an academic decision but as a signal he could be steering towards his sister’s growing sense of duty.
If he opts for an entirely different route, the independence could reflect the ethos his parents championed since his birth: that he should be free from expectation, pressure, and the weight of titles he never asked for.
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