James, Earl of Wessex
Viscount Severn | |
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![]() Viscount Severn in 2016 | |
Born | James Alexander Philip Theo Mountbatten-Windsor 17 December 2007 |
Parents |
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Family | House of Windsor |
James Alexander Philip Theo Mountbatten-Windsor, Viscount Severn (born 17 December 2007) is the younger child of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Forfar, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Forfar. He is the youngest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and a nephew of King Charles III. He is 14th in the line of succession to the British throne.
Birth and baptism
Viscount Severn was born on 17 December 2007, at Frimley Park Hospital in Frimley, Surrey.[1] The names James Alexander Philip Theo were announced on 21 December.[2]
He was baptised on 19 April 2008, in the Private Chapel of Windsor Castle by David Conner, the Dean of Windsor, and his godparents were Alastair Bruce of Crionaich, Duncan Bullivant, Thomas Hill, Denise Poulton and Jeanye Irwin.[3][4] He wore a newly made replica of the royal christening gown originally used by Victoria, the eldest child of Queen Victoria, in 1840. It has been worn for most royal christenings since then, and the original gown has now been preserved.[3]
As of 2020[update], Viscount Severn attended Eagle House School, a coeducational preparatory school near Sandhurst in Berkshire.[5]
Official appearances
In April 2015, James and his sister, Lady Louise, participated in their first overseas engagement by accompanying their parents on a trip to South Africa.[6] In September 2020, James participated in the Great British Beach Clean with his family at Southsea Beach in Hampshire, in support of the Marine Conservation Society.[7][8]
In March 2022 James attended the memorial service for Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.[9] In June 2022 he attended the Platinum Jubilee National Service of Thanksgiving[10][11] and the Platinum Party at the Palace.[12]
On 17 September 2022, during the period of official mourning for Queen Elizabeth II, James joined his sister and six cousins to mount a 15-minute vigil around the body of the late Queen, as it lay in state at Westminster Hall.[13]
Titles, styles, and honours
Titles and styles
James is styled as Viscount Severn. The title Viscount Severn acknowledges the Welsh roots of his mother's family:[14] the River Severn rises in Wales. Letters patent issued in 1917 assign a princely status and the style of Royal Highness to all children of a monarch's sons.[15] When his parents married, Buckingham Palace announced that their children would be styled as the children of an earl, rather than as prince or princess.[16] Thus, court communications refer to him as Viscount Severn.[17] In 2020, the Countess of Wessex and Forfar stated that James and his sister retained their royal titles and styles and will make a choice on whether to use it when they each turn 18.[18]
Honours
6 February 2012: Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal[19]
6 February 2022: Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal[19]
In June 2008, to recognise a visit by his father to the Canadian province of Manitoba, the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba named a lake in the north of the province after James.[20]
References
- ^ "Countess gives birth to baby boy". BBC News. 17 December 2007.
- ^ "Edward and Sophie name baby James". BBC News. 21 December 2007.
- ^ a b "Announcement of the Arrangement for the Christening of Lord Severn". royal.uk. 15 April 2008. Archived from the original on 20 April 2008.
- ^ "Queen sees grandson's christening". BBC News. 19 April 2008.
- ^ Lamb, Christina. "Can Sophie, Countess of Wessex, steady the royal ship?". The Times. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- ^ "Lady Louise and James accompany mother Sophie on royal mission in South Africa". 11 April 2015.
- ^ Rice, Francesca (21 September 2020). "The Countess of Wessex looks cool and casual in jeans to litter-pick at the beach with her famil". Good Housekeeping. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
- ^ "Prince Edward and family spend sunny weekend on beach clean". Tatler. 21 September 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
- ^ Scarsi, Alice (29 March 2022). "Lady Louise Windsor stuns royal fans during rare public appearance – 'what a beauty'". Express. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
- ^ Hughes, Seren (2 June 2022). "Royal fans can't believe how grown up the Queen's youngest grandson looks". MyLondon.
- ^ "Who was at the Queen's Jubilee service of thanksgiving? Royal family joined by Harry, Meghan and politicians past and present". Sky News.
- ^ Coke, Hope (4 June 2022). "'You laugh with us and cry with us': Prince Charles pays heartfelt tribute to 'mummy' at historic Platinum Party". Tatler. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
- ^ McCrum, Kirstie (17 September 2022). "Queen's grandchildren stand solemn vigil in Westminster Hall". walesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ "Wessex titles for Edward and Sophie". BBC News. 19 June 1999. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
- ^ "No. 30428". The London Gazette. 14 December 1917. p. 13086.
- ^ UK Government News – 19th June, 1999: TITLE OF HRH THE PRINCE EDWARD (Accessed 18 January 2014)
- ^ Kidd, Charles; Shaw, Christine (2008). Debrett's Peerage & Baronetage 2008. Debrett's Peerage Limited. ISBN 978-1870520805.
- ^ "Queen Elizabeth's Grandchildren Will 'Work for a Living' and Won't Use HRH, Says Mom Sophie Wessex". People. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ a b Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Sussex, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn have mounted a vigil around their grandmother’s coffin at Westminster Hall
- ^ "Prince Edward begins Winnipeg visit". The Vancouver Sun. Canada. 2 June 2008. Archived from the original on 15 April 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
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- 2007 births
- Living people
- 21st-century English people
- English Anglicans
- English people of Danish descent
- English people of German descent
- English people of Greek descent
- English people of Russian descent
- English people of Scottish descent
- British courtesy viscounts
- House of Windsor
- Mountbatten-Windsor family
- Royal children
- People educated at Eagle House School
- People educated at St George's School, Windsor Castle
- People from Bagshot
- People from Frimley
- Princes of the United Kingdom