James Alexander Philip Theo Mountbatten-Windsor, the Earl of Wessex, was born on December 17, 2007, and was previously styled as Viscount Severn until March 10, 2023. He is the youngest child and only son of Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.
James was the youngest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and is the youngest nephew of King Charles III. He is currently 14th in line to the British throne.
James was born at Frimley Park Hospital in Frimley, Surrey, and was baptized in the Private Chapel of Windsor Castle on April 19, 2008, by David Conner, the dean of Windsor. His godparents are Alastair Bruce of Crionaich, Duncan Bullivant, Thomas Hill, Denise Poulton, and Jeanye Irwin. James attended Eagle House School, a coeducational preparatory school near Sandhurst in Berkshire.
James has participated in several official engagements, including a trip to South Africa with his sister and parents in April 2015 and the Great British Beach Clean in September 2020. He also attended the memorial service for Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in March 2022 and the Platinum Jubilee National Service of Thanksgiving and the Platinum Party at the Palace in June 2022. During the official mourning period for Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, James joined his sister and six cousins to mount a 15-minute vigil around the coffin of the late Queen and attended her state funeral.
James was previously styled as Viscount Severn, but upon the creation of his father as Duke of Edinburgh on March 10, 2023, he became styled with the courtesy title of Earl of Wessex, which is his father's most senior subsidiary title. As the Dukedom of Edinburgh is a life peerage, James will not inherit it upon his father's death. However, he is heir apparent to his father's hereditary peerages: Earl of Wessex, Earl of Forfar, and Viscount Severn.
