Prince Edward and Sophie’s ‘dapper’ son James, 18, confidently stepped into the spotlight at Peter Phillips’s wedding… as fans discover ‘grown up’ Earl of Wessex now towers over his mother
The Earl of Wessex looked ‘confident’ as he attended his cousin Peter Phillips’ wedding to Harriet Sperling this weekend, with the most enigmatic member of the royal family thrust into the spotlight.
Prince Edward and Sophie’s son James, who turned 18 last December, joined the senior royals at All Saints Church in Kemble, Gloucestershire, on Saturday, where Peter and his NHS nurse partner said “I do”.
Footage outside the church showed James sharing a cozy moment with his 62-year-old father, with fans noting that he looked so “grown up”.
Some X users also noticed that James looked ‘high’ on his mum Sophie, 61, who looked stunning in a pale blue Beulah London dress.
‘I think he’s already taller than Prince Edward,’ one person added.
Another wrote: ‘He looks so down to earth and humble. I hope he considers becoming a working Royal one day.’
A third noted that James, known as the ‘secret royal’, was ‘growing into the role’, while another praised his ‘tall and stylish style’.
It comes after the Princess of Wales proved she is firmly in the royal family when James, who recently completed his A-levels, joined the family for the Easter service earlier this year.
Prince Edward and Sophie’s son James, who turned 18 last December, joined senior royals at All Saints Church in Kemble, Gloucestershire, for the nuptials of Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling.
It looks quite realistic and humble. I hope she considers becoming a working Royal one day.
James, who took on a more prominent role at the Royal Family’s traditional event and walked right behind the arriving Prince and Princess of Wales, appeared equally keen to talk to his cousin.
Amid speculation about James’ future role in the monarchy, X users said Kate would ‘make a good guide’ for young royals like herself, with one person writing: ‘She is so down to earth I think they would feel comfortable in her presence.’
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James had previously been called a ‘secret royal’; in the past he had missed activities with his wider family while focusing on his education.
Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth’s youngest grandson is considered one of the most enigmatic members of the royal family; This is largely because their parents go to great lengths to provide a ‘normal’ education for their children, who grow up without HRH titles.
Last year, writing in the Palace Confidential newsletter, the Daily Mail’s Daily Editor, Richard Eden, expressed how the increased contribution of Edward and Sophie’s children could be of great value to the Royal Family.
He wrote: ‘When Prince William becomes King, I hope he will follow the example of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, and ask his cousins, including Lady Louise and James, to share royal duties with him.
‘I hope William will realize that a ‘weakened’ monarchy will not preserve the institution, as some claim, but will instead lead to its irrelevance and eventual demise.
But James has made increasingly public appearances in recent months, including attending Peter and Harriet’s ‘intimate’ Cotswolds wedding less than two months after Easter.
But royal commentators know little about whether James will follow in his older sister’s footsteps and attend the University of St Andrews, or step into the public sphere as a working royal after his A-levels.
Her mother’s own words reflect this uncertainty; Sophie once admitted that she could clearly see the path her daughter was taking, but wasn’t sure what her son would ultimately choose.
‘Louise is studying hard and going to do A-levels. I hope he goes to university. I won’t force him, but if he wants to. “He’s pretty smart, so I probably think so,” Sophie told The Times in 2020. “But I don’t know James.” he added.
Sophie also told the newspaper that the siblings were free to take up their HRH titles when they turned 18, but said it was ‘highly unlikely’ they would do so, an accurate prediction for Lady Louise.
But royal experts are increasingly suggesting that Prince William may eventually look to the younger generation, particularly Prince Edward’s children, to support the monarchy.
James’ understated character is thought to be an asset that offers William both a reliable and uncontroversial option.
James now ‘towers’ above his mother, the Duchess of Edinburgh
James with his father Prince Edward outside the church in Kemble
From left to right: James chats with Prince Edward, 62, outside the door of All Saints Church. The wedding marks a rare public appearance by the Earl of Wessex, who is now 18
It comes after the Princess of Wales proved she is firmly in the royal family when James, who recently completed his A-levels, joined the family for the Easter service earlier this year.
Growing up thirty years behind his eldest cousin Peter Phillips, James had a childhood very different from that of his cousins; a feeling shaped by countryside fishing, sleepovers with friends, and normal school runs rather than red carpets or balcony looks.
‘What’s normal? ‘They go to a regular school,’ Sophie shared. ‘They go to their friends to have a sleepover and party. We walk the dog a lot on the weekends and stay with friends.
‘I guess not everyone’s grandparents live in a castle, but it’s not about where you go or who they are.’
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 the Queen’s permission, for their future children not to have the titles of prince and princess.
At birth, James was named Viscount Severn after the River Severn in Wales, a nod to his mother’s Welsh heritage, and subsequently became Earl of Wessex when Edward and Sophie were made Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
The title of Duke of Edinburgh will not pass to James and his long-term role will remain uncertain.
This move was made in an attempt to relieve Louise and James from the burden of their royal titles.
In 2016, Sophie spoke about her attempts to keep her son and daughter out of the public spotlight while they were still children.
He told the BBC: ‘Of course we tried to keep them out of it when they were very young. Because we felt that it was very important for their well-being to grow up as normally as possible.
‘And they’re going to have to go out and get a job and make a living later in life, and if they’ve had a normal start in life they can probably do that, then I’d hope that would be to their benefit.’
