All About Prince Edward and Sophie’s 2 Children, Lady Louise and James, Earl of Wessex
All About Prince Edward and Sophie’s 2 Children, Lady Louise and James, Earl of Wessex
Kelsie Gibson, Nicole PomaricoFri, August 14, 2026 at 3:36 PM UTC
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Prince Edward, Lady Louise, Sophie and James, Viscount SevernCredit: Chris Jackson/Getty -
Queen Elizabeth’s youngest son, Prince Edward, is married to Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh
The couple share two children, Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and James Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of Wessex
Louise and James don’t appear to be using royal titles now that they are both adults
Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, tied the knot on June 19, 1999, and share two children: Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and James Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of Wessex.
A few years after their royal wedding, the couple became first-time parents as they welcomed their daughter, Lady Louise, in November 2003. In December 2007, they welcomed their second child and first son, James, who was then styled as Viscount Severn.
Upon both of their births, Prince Edward and Sophie opted not to give their children prince and princess titles. They both could have chosen to receive the titles when they turned 18, according to the 1917 Letters Patent, which decrees that all children of the monarch’s heirs have princely status and can use the designation His or Her Royal Highness. However, it seems that neither of them decided to use the titles.
“We try to bring them up with the understanding they are very likely to have to work for a living,” the Countess of Wessex told Times of London about their decision to not give Louise and James titles. “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 seemingly confirmed her choice when she was announced as “Louise Mountbatten-Windsor” at her graduation ceremony at the University of St. Andrews, while James was simply referred to as “the Earl of Wessex” when Buckingham Palace shared an update about his university plans in August 2026.
As the youngest child of the late Queen Elizabeth, Prince Edward and his family aren’t in the spotlight as much as his siblings, but they have made quite a few royal appearances together over the years.
Here’s everything to know about Prince Edward and Sophie, Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh’s two children.
Lady Louise, 22
Lady Louise Mountbatten-WindsorCredit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty
Lady Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor was born on Nov. 8, 2003, at Frimley Park Hospital in Frimley, Surrey, about a month early. Louise was transferred to a neo-natal unit in St George’s Hospital, Tooting, London, away from her mother, who lost several pints of blood during the delivery.
As a result of her experience with her daughter’s premature birth, which also resulted in Louise having esotropia (an eye condition Sophie described as a “profound squint”), Sophie does charitable work on behalf of premature infants and avoidable eye conditions. Surgery has corrected Louise’s condition, but as Sophie told The Sunday Times in June, “it’s still not perfect, but none of us are.”
She was later baptized in the Private Chapel of Windsor Castle in April 2004. She was the last child to wear the royal christening gown, which was originally made in 1841 for Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter, Princess Victoria. The royal children after Louise have worn a replica of the gown for their royal christenings, including ceremonies for Prince George and Archie Mountbatten-Windsor.
Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor at Kate Middleton and Prince William’s weddingCredit: Ian Gavan/GP/Getty
Louise has participated in major royal events over the years, including being a bridesmaid in Prince William and Kate Middleton’s royal wedding in 2011 when she was 7 years old. Years later, she also served as a special attendant at the wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank.
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Like her late grandfather Prince Philip, she has taken up carriage driving and has participated in several Royal Windsor Horse Shows. She has also followed in the footsteps of her royal cousin, Prince William, as she announced in August 2022 that she would be attending his alma mater St. Andrews University, the same place he first met Kate Middleton.
Louise graduated from St. Andrews in July 2026 with a degree in English and is expected to take a gap year before pursuing her future career.
James, Earl of Wessex, 18
James Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of WessexCredit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty
James Alexander Philip Theo Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of Wessex, was born on Dec. 17, 2007, at Frimley Park Hospital in Frimley, Surrey. He is the youngest grandchild of the late Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth and is 17th in line to the throne, right before his sister who is 18th. This is due to the fact that they were both born before the Succession to the Crown Act in 2013, which made it that birth order determines who will become the next king or queen of the U.K., regardless of gender.
He was later baptized in April 2008, in the Private Chapel of Windsor Castle. James was the first to wear a replica of the traditional royal christening gown, as the original gown had since been preserved.
Sophie, James and Edward at Princess Eugenie’s wedding to Jack BrooksbankCredit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty
While he hasn’t served in any royal wedding parties, he was present for a handful of them, including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding in May 2018 and Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s wedding a few months later.
In September 2022, James attended a vigil for Queen Elizabeth in Westminster Hall, alongside his sister Lady Louise and cousins Prince William, Prince Harry, Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. The late Queen’s youngest grandchild, who wore a dark suit for the event, took a position at the side of Elizabeth’s coffin and stood with his head bowed as mourners passed.
On March 10, 2023, King Charles conferred the title of Duke of Edinburgh onto Edward. This change made James the new Earl of Wessex, inheriting the earldom from Edward, when he was previously known as Viscount Severn.
However, James won’t be able to also inherit the Duke of Edinburgh title. In the official announcement, Buckingham Palace stated that “the title will be held by Prince Edward for His Royal Highness’s lifetime.” After his death, it will revert to the crown and could pass to one of Prince William‘s younger children.
In August 2026, Buckingham Palace confirmed to PEOPLE that James is now university-bound.
“The Earl of Wessex will be going to the Royal Agricultural University to study Rural Land & Property Management,” said the palace. “He will head straight there without taking a year out.”
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