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Prince Edward And Duchess Sophie’s Son Turns 18 — And a Major Royal Title Decision Awaits

As a legal adult, James Wessex is now eligible to choose whether to adopt the Prince and HRH titles as a grandson of the late monarch.

Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie married in 1999, and their union produced two children, Lady Louise and James, Earl of Wessex. On December 17, the younger Wessex child celebrated his milestone 18th birthday with a major decision lying ahead of him. As a legal adult, he is now eligible to choose whether to adopt the 'Prince' and HRH [His/Her Royal Highness] royal titles as a grandson of the late monarch. Meanwhile, his sister previously opted out of those titles, choosing instead to go by 'Lady' when she came of age.

Under the 1917 Letters Patent, and as the child of the monarch's son, James now has the freedom to decide his royal future. His cousins, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, chose to adopt the 'Princess' title as daughters of the former Prince Andrew. However, it is widely believed that James would not opt for a royal title, reflecting the grounded values he has learned from his parents. In a previous interview with The Sunday Times, Sophie explained the reasoning behind their children's decision, saying, "We try to bring them up with the understanding they are very likely to have to work for a living. 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."

Although James is not a working royal, he was styled as Viscount Severn at birth and became the Earl of Wessex after his father became the Duke of Edinburgh in 2023. The title holds sentimental value for him, as Edward had previously held it since he married Sophie. However, James may never inherit the Duke of Edinburgh title, as Buckingham Palace specified that "the title will be held by Prince Edward for His Royal Highness's lifetime." Though he is four years younger than Louise, he is ahead of her in the line of succession, as they were born before the Succession to the Crown Act in 2013, before the legislation ended male primogeniture.

Now that both Louise and James have reached adulthood, they are not expected to opt for royal titles or take on major royal roles in the near future. Weighing in on the same, royal biographer Sean Smith told GB News, "I think Sophie – and Edward – have been careful to prepare their children for a life outside the working royal family. I am confident that there will not be any pressure on Louise and James." Just as Sophie said, the Wessex couple are keen to manage such expectations for her children, so that they can pursue independent careers without the interference of royal obligations. 

Meanwhile, following King Charles's accession in 2022, Sophie and Edward have taken on more prominent roles within the monarchy. As part of Charles's vision of a 'slimmed-down monarchy,' it is unlikely that Louise or James will appear more frequently at major royal events. For now, James remains focused on his studies at Radley College, where he is completing his secondary education and preparing for his A-levels.