Traditionally—and if the royal family is anything, it’s traditional—the British royal family converge in Windsor to spend Easter together with services at St George’s Chapel followed by a roast lamb lunch at the castle. And though the usual members of the family were spotted this Sunday morning, including King Charles, Queen Camilla (donning a cheery light blue coat), there was one noticeably present royal who made me do a double take: James, Earl of Wessex. Why the double take? Well, we haven’t seen this royal in a while, and he’s grown up so much!
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The youngest of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s eight grandchildren, James—aka James Alexander Philip Theo Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of Wessex—was born on December 17, 2017 to parents Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. That makes the 17-year-old first cousins with Princes Harry and William and 16th in line for the thrown.
James has made official royal appearances over the years, including the memorial service for his grandfather Prince Philip on March 2022, the vigil and funeral for his late grandmother in September 2022, his uncle’s May 2023 coronation, and most recently, the last Easter service in 2024.
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James, according to Tatler, lives with his parents at the family home of Bagshot Park in Surrey, fairly close to Windsor castle, and presumably the reason why the young earl and his sister Louise were able to spend a significant amount of time with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip growing up.
Here’s to seeing the young royal again soon—hopefully before next Easter!
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