Why Prince Edward is forced to miss son James' 17th birthday today
The Earl of Wessex is celebrating on December 17Prince Edward will reportedly miss his son James’ 17th birthday due to royal engagements.
James, Earl of Wessex, turns 17 on December 17. He is the youngest child of Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.
However, Prince Edward, 60, is carrying out duties overseas on Tuesday meaning he won’t be around for James’ birthday.
Why Prince Edward is missing son James’ birthday
According to the royal website, the Duke of Edinburgh is visiting Bahrain and Kuwait on December 17.
However, he’ll return to the UK in time for King Charles’ annual pre-Christmas lunch later in the week.
Prince Edward is the youngest child of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
He married his wife Sophie in 1999 and they have two children – daughter Lady Louise Windsor, 21, and James. James is the late queen and Philip’s youngest grandchild.
Both Lady Louise and James haven’t been in the limelight a lot, something Sophie has opened up on previously.
Lady Louise Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex’s life in the royal family
Despite their parents being senior members of the royal family, Louise and James will likely have different paths.
In 2020, Sophie said she and Edward told their children they will “very likely have to work for a living”.
We try to bring them up with the understanding they are very likely to have to work for a living.
Speaking to The Times at the time, Sophie said of her children: “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.
Duchess of Edinburgh on decision not to give children HRH titles
“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.”
Louise is currently studying at St Andrews University in Scotland – the same uni that Prince William and Kate Middleton met at in 2001.
In August 2024, reports claimed that Louise was considering serving in the military after ‘falling in love’ with Army Cadets.
Meanwhile, her younger brother James received his GCSE results over the summer.
He didn’t attend the 2024 Trooping the Colour ceremony due to his studying. Both Louise and James have been seen at big royal events, including King Charles’ coronation in May 2023.
They were also both present at Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral in September 2022.
Do you follow the royals out on engagements? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @RoyalInsiderOfficial.
