As the royal family mourns Queen Elizabeth II some of its less familiar members have found themselves in the spotlight. Just as King Charles had led his siblings in the Vigil of the Princes on Friday evening, his son Prince William was joined by his brother Harry and their cousins in Westminster Hall for the brief ceremony on Saturday.
Prince Andrew’s children Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie; Princess Anne’s two children Zara Tindall and Peter Philips and Prince Edward’s daughter Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor also took part. But amongst the recognisable faces stood the Queen's eighth grandchild - Louise's brother, James.
The 14-year-old, who has the title Viscount Severn, gave a rare public appearance as he stood vigil beside his grandmother’s coffin. Although his sister has increasingly appeared in public as she has aged, her brother has largely been out of public view.
Read more: Welsh teenager receives invitation to Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral
But paying tribute to his grandmother as she lay in state at Westminster Hall, James joined his family by her coffin, which was draped in the Royal Standard, and topped with the Imperial State Crown, and orb and sceptre.
James is the only son of Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex. He was born on December 17 2007 in Surrey when the BBC reported his father described him as "very cute and very cuddly". His name, James Alexander Philip Theo, was announced several days later and his full surname is Mountbatten-Windsor.
After James and Louise were born, their parents opted not to give the pair royal titles. However when the pair turn 18, they can decide if they wish to take on the titles of Prince and Princess.
The Countess of Wessex previously said about their decision to not give their children titles: "“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.”
James is currently 13th in line to the throne, while his sister is 14th, having both been 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, regardless of gender.
Though rarely seen, James has attended a number of high-profile royal events, including the Commonwealth Games, the platinum jubilee Trooping the Colour parade, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding, and Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s wedding a few months later.
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