James, Earl of Wessex, who is the son of Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex, turned 18-years-old yesterday and had a major decision to make about his futureNicola Croal Trends, Showbiz and Lifestyle Writer and Matt Davies
12:58, 18 Dec 2025Updated 12:59, 18 Dec 2025
James, Earl of Wessex, the son of Charles’ youngest brother, Prince Edward, turned 18 yesterday
(Image: Getty Images)
King Charles’ nephew has made a huge life decision after recently turning of age, according to reports. James, Earl of Wessex, who is the son of the King’s youngest brother, Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, turned 18-years-old yesterday on December 17.
It is a landmark age for the teen which came with a key decision to make about his royal future. Having now turned 18, James is entitled to adopt the royal titles of His Royal Highness (HRH) and Prince.
Senior royals typically have the letters HRH included in their titles, but they are given the choice whether or not they want to use them, the Mirror reports. It seems that James intends to follow in his mother’s lead and won’t be “following the example of his cousins”, according to the Mail’s Richard Eden.
Richard wrote: “Prince Edward and Sophie’s son, James, turned 18 yesterday, but he won’t be celebrating by following the example of his cousins across the Atlantic.” He continued: “James, who has been the Earl of Wessex since his father became the Duke of Edinburgh, now has the legal right to be known as His Royal Highness and also Prince.
James with his mother Sophie Wessex and sister Lady Louise Windsor (Image: Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)
“However, while Harry and Meghan insisted their children be known as Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, James will not, I’m told, be using his titles.” It may not come as a surprise to royal fans as Sophie has previously commented on the subject.
She disclosed that her and Edward’s two children, James and Lady Louise Windsor, were “likely to have to work for a living”. Sophie said: “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.”
Speaking more about their children’s upbringing, Sophie added that they attend a “regular school” and, in a attempt to provide them with semi-normal lives, they enjoy sleepovers and “lots of dog walking”, the Metro reports.
James and Louise’s cousin, Prince Harry, and his wife, Meghan Markle, also chose to drop their HRH title when they stepped down from life as senior royals and relocated to Montecito, California, in 2020.
James, Earl of Wessex, the son of Charles’ youngest brother, Prince Edward, turned 18 yesterday
(Image: Getty Images)
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor is another member of the Royal Family who no longer uses his titles, including HRH, Duke of York and Prince.
However, the removal of his titles came after intense media scrutiny over his ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
King Charles made the decision to remove all of his royal titles in October this year due to the continuous backlash, reducing him to just Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
Andrew has consistently denied the allegations levelled against him.
Another prominent royal figure not using the HRH title is Zara Tindall, who is Princess Anne’s daughter.
However, in this case it is due to tradition, as only male royals in the line of succession can reportedly pass the title on.
According to a 1917 declaration by King George V: “The grandchildren of the sons of any such Sovereign in the direct male line (save only the eldest living son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales) shall have and enjoy in all occasions the style and title enjoyed by the children of Dukes of these Our Realms.
“Representatives for the Earl of Wessex have been contacted for comment.