Meet Sophie Wessex’s son as he turns 17 – refusing attention-seeking title, ‘betting’ at 9 & bond with Mike Tindall
IT’S hard to be low key when you are in the royal family – but one teenager has so far steered clear of the limelight.
James, Viscount Severn – the son of Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh – has just turned 17 and is breaking the mould of royal life.
When he was born by caesarean at Frimley Park Hospital on December 17, 2007, James was eighth in line to the throne and was the late Queen’s youngest grandchild.
Despite now being 15th in the order of succession and often seen at high profile royal events, little is known about him.
However, according to reports from Tatler, James was one of the Queen’s favourite grandchildren.
Royal author Phil Dampier told Fabulous: “Edward and Sophie have deliberately kept him out of the limelight.
“But if James or his sister Louise wanted to take on royal duties or do charity work in the future I’m sure there could be a place for them, especially as the monarchy has been hit by illness, scandal and Megxit which means they are thin on the ground.
“I’m told James used to be very shy but in the last couple of years or so he’s grown up a lot and is now a very confident young man.”
Royal title upgrade
When Prince Edward and Sophie were given their new titles of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh in 2023, James was also given a promotion.
He inherited Edward’s subsidiary title, and is now known as the Earl of Wessex.
When Prince Edward married Sophie in 1999, they decided that their future children wouldn’t have attention-grabbing Prince or Princess titles.
Phil added: “I think they got this approach from Princess Anne who didn’t want titles for her children Peter and Zara.
“It meant they have grown up without the burden of royal duties and have carved out their own careers.”
However, James joined his parents and sister on his first overseas engagement in South Africa in April 2015 at the age of just eight years old.
Speaking of the rejection of her kids having HRH titles, Sophie said: “They have them and can decide to use them from 18, but I think it’s highly unlikely.”
The couple settled on their kids having subsidiary titles, with James’ being Viscount Severn (which was one of his father’s subsidiary titles), and his older sister being Lady Louise.
It was believed that ‘Severn’ was chosen as a nod to Sophie’s Welsh heritage and the River Severn in Wales.
Although they are in the public eye, Prince Edward and Sophie are said to try to keep their children grounded.
Speaking to the Times in 2020, Sophie was asking about how she provides a ‘normal life’, and she replied “what’s normal?”, before adding they attend “regular schools.”
Academic Lady Louise is currently at St Andrews University studying English, which typically requires AAA from A-level results.
Sophie previously said she was sure her “quite clever” daughter would go to university, but said: “James I don’t know.”
James has a “circle of close friends who treat him like a normal guy despite him being the late Queen’s youngest grandchild”, according to Phil.
The royal author added: “He is said to be good at sports and he’s certainly very good looking, so he will be attracting a lot of attention in the gossip columns in years to come.
“Any girl he dates will fall under the spotlight, but hopefully he will be well equipped to handle it.”
James is said to be “not into social media”, but Sophie admitted in 2020 that she and Edward had plans to teach their kids how to use it “successfully” as they get older.
120-room mansion
King Charles’ youngest brother and his family reside at the country estate of Bagshot Park in Surrey, which has a staggering 120 rooms and is worth £30million.
The surrounding grounds sit within the Windsor Great Park – located around 30 miles from London – and they house a private lake.
There are also multiple stables, which is handy for Lady Louise, who not only loves horse-riding, like the late Queen, but also enjoys carriage-driving.
Prince Edward recently extended the lease of Bagshot Park, for another 150 years, so it looks like they won’t be moving anytime soon.
The family has lived in the palatial dwelling since 1999, the same year that the royal couple tied the knot.
Sophie and Prince Edward's royal romance
When Sophie met Edward in 1987 she was a PR for Capital Radio, but it was six years before they started dating.
They then began a romance in earnest, but went to great lengths to avoid photographers, especially when Sophie began staying overnight at Edward’s three-room apartment in Buckingham Palace. When calling Sophie at her office, the Prince would use the name Richard — not that he fooled her colleagues for long.
Six years after they started going out, Edward proposed, with a £105,000 ring from Crown jewellers Garrard.
Starting a family was not straightforward. In 2001 Sophie suffered an ectopic pregnancy.
In 2003, the birth of daughter Louise was similarly dramatic. The baby was a month premature and Sophie lost nine pints of blood, had a caesarean and was in hospital for 15 days. In 2007 she had another caesarean giving birth to son James.
Last summer, during the break before the second lockdown, Edward, Sophie and their children, now 17 and 13, were among the first to stay with the Queen and Philip at Balmoral, and the last to leave.
James – who turned 17 on Tuesday and is expected to soon do his driving test – has been allowed to drive around the grounds for years.
When he was 10, he was also snapped behind the wheel driving around the private grounds of Windsor Castle.
Another activity he’s been exposed to from an early age is horse racing and he was seen spotted holding what appeared to be a betting ticket at Ascot when he was just nine.
Tight bond with Mike Tindall
Meanwhile, royal fans gushed over the touching moment James, Viscount Severn was comforted by his cousin-in-law Mike Tindall as they attended the funeral for Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.
He was seen next to his sister as they made their way into Westminster Abbey to honour their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, for her state funeral after she died at Balmoral aged 96.
The former rugby player was seen placing his hand behind James’ back to comfort the then-14-year-old ahead of the service.
Royal fans also praised the mature teenager for having stood guard at the Queen’s vigil in Westminster Hall for the 15 minute period of reflection.
Viewers said the teen was “admirable” for standing vigil at such a young age.
Down-to-earth upbringing
From a young age, Prince Edward and Sophie have tried to shield their children from the spotlight.
She told BBC in 2016: “Certainly when they were very young we tried to keep them out of it.
“Only because for their sakes, to grow up as normally as possible we felt was quite important.
“And they’re going to have to go out and get a job and earn a living later on in life and if they’ve had a normal a start in life they possibly can get, then hopefully that will stand them in good stead.”
Sophie said her family loves barbecues, which Prince Edward is “very good” at, along with sleepovers and parties with friends, and walking their dogs.
Close bond with Louise
While he is over a decade younger than his cousins – who include Princess Eugenie, 34, Princess Beatrice, 36, Prince Harry, 40, and Prince William, 42 – he has a tight knit relationship with Lady Louise.
Phil shared: “James has always been very close to his sister and they look after and protect each other.
“But Louise is currently at St Andrews University in Scotland – where William and Kate met – and has a boyfriend so he sees less of her.”
Christmas appearance
Every year, the royal family flocks to Sandringham to spend Christmas with one another, and Prince Edward, Sophie and their kids are expected to attend this year.
Phil added: “We will see James at Christmas walking with the rest of the royals to church at Sandringham and it will be interesting to see if he stops to talk to the waiting crowds.
“Then we will get a glimpse of his personality and hopefully see more of him.”