Duchess Sophie on why she and Prince Edward made decision to not give HRH titles to children
The pair may have working lives away from the royal familySophie, Duchess of Edinburgh once revealed why she and Prince Edward decided not to give their children HRH titles.
The duchess, who turns 60 today (January 20), made the admission during an interview back in 2020.
Lady Louise and James, Earl of Wessex’s titles
The late queen and Prince Philip had eight grandchildren – including Lady Louise, 21, and James, 17.
However, unlike some of the others, Louise and James don’t use HRH titles.
Technically, the young royals could have royal titles if they so wished. This would make them HRH Princess Louise and HRH Prince James.
However, it was decided by Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, 60, and Prince Edward, 60, that their children would not use royal titles. Instead, they would be regarded as the children of an Earl, rather than a prince.
Louise goes by the name of Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, whilst James is known as James, Earl of Wessex.
In the past, Sophie said that the young royals could decide to use their royal titles when they turned 18. However, she confessed that this was “highly unlikely”.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh on children Louise and James’ titles
Sophie spoke about her children’s titles during an interview with The Sunday Times back in 2020.
“We try to bring them up with the understanding that they are very likely to have to work for a living,” she said. “Hence we made the decision not to use HRH titles.”
“They have them and can decide to use them from 18, but it’s highly unlikely,” she added.
Louise and James’ future plans within the royal family
Speaking exclusively to Royal Insider, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams speculated that Lady Louise and James, Earl of Wessex, could become working royals in the future.
“Unlike most other European monarchies, the British monarchy is unique in its profile and in its influence. There are, however, only four working royals under 70,” he told us.
It would certainly be very helpful to The Firm.
“Although their parents did not plan for them to carry out royal engagements or have the HRH title, Lady Louise Windsor, currently a student at St Andrews and her brother James, Viscount Severn might in future do so,” he then continued.
“It would certainly be very helpful to The Firm if they did.”
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh’s impact on the monarchy
Elsewhere, Richard also praised Louise and James’ mother, Sophie, and how much of an impact she’s had on the monarchy.
“In a relatively quiet, understated way, both of them [Edward and Sophie] have proved invaluable to the monarchy over the past two and a half decades. They first tried to combine being senior working royals with business interests, but this proved impractical,” he told us.
“Sophie became a confidant of the queen, even referring to her as ‘mama’ in a speech and is highly respected by the public, though she is less well known than Princess Anne,” he continued.
“She has visited several highly turbulent areas of the world, especially in Africa, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone among them, and has highlighted the plight of those afflicted by gender-based violence in war zones.”
Richard then added: “She was awarded the Hillary Rodham Clinton Award for this work in which she is joined by the actress Angelina Jolie. She is indeed King Charles’ ‘secret weapon’.”
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