The Duchess of Edinburgh has made a rare and heartfelt comment about her son, James, the Earl of Wessex, reflecting on a poignant moment from 2022.
Sophie opened up about the vigil held at Westminster Hall, where her two children stood guard over the coffin of their late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
When asked about her emotions while watching her children, who are among the Queen’s youngest grandchildren, Sophie described the experience as “incredibly moving.” This touching remark was made during her recent visit to L’Arche London, a community focused on supporting individuals with learning disabilities.
The royal mother expressed immense pride, stating, “I felt just so proud of them—not only James and Lady Louise Windsor but all of the cousins, including Prince William and Prince Harry.”
Initially, Sophie had her reservations about James participating in the vigil since he is younger than his cousins, but she noted that he was eager to be involved. “He was really keen to do it,” she admitted. “I think it was really important for him to take part, as it was for Louise as well.”
Sophie revealed that she was “slightly holding my breath,” wanting her children to feel that they had honored their grandmother well. “I wasn’t worried about anything happening; I just wanted them to feel that they had done their bit for her.”
Becoming emotional as she recounted the moment, Sophie continued, “It was incredibly moving, and it was lovely to see her surrounded by them.”
Unlike many other royal families, Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie have chosen to keep their children out of the media spotlight as they grew up.
Although James is younger than his sister Lady Louise, he inherited the title of Viscount Severn due to the age-old law of primogeniture, which grants titles to the eldest male heir. Consequently, while Louise holds the courtesy title of Lady, she is not styled as a Viscountess.
James’s title changed to Earl of Wessex in May 2023 when Prince Edward became the Duke of Edinburgh. Neither James nor Lady Louise hold ‘HRH’ titles, a deliberate choice by their parents to allow them to lead more normal lives and maintain the option of pursuing careers.
