James, Earl of Wessex, has been spotted working on the Sandringham estate as questions loom about his educational and royal future
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NEED TO KNOW
- King Charles’ 18-year-old nephew, James, Earl of Wessex, has been spotted working on the Sandringham estate this summer
- James is the youngest grandchild of the late Queen Elizabeth and the son of Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh
- The young royal graduated from Radley College this summer; his future plans have yet to be announced
James, Earl of Wessex, the youngest grandchild of the late Queen Elizabeth, has taken on an unexpected summer job at a beloved royal property.
The 18-year-old son of Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, has been spotted working as a farmhand on the Sandringham estate in recent months. James has been seen driving tractors and “mucking in,” surprising some of the longtime workers on King Charles’ Norfolk estate.
“Everyone is so used to only seeing James smartly turned out with his family at functions at Christmas and Easter, so I had to do a double take,” one employee recently told The Sun.
“He might be the King’s nephew,” the worker added, “but he is more than happy to get his hands dirty and muck in.”
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King Charles is fond of the countryside, and it’s said that the monarch “couldn’t be prouder knowing the younger royals share his love.”
James graduated from Radley College this summer; however, plans for his education and royal future have yet to be announced. He and his older sister, Lady Louise, 22, grew up largely out of the public eye, but James has followed his sister’s lead in joining the senior royals at more events since turning 18 last December.
In June, he made his Royal Ascot debut, standing alongside his mother and other guests in the royal box.
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Neither Louise nor James chose to publicly adopt a royal title or HRH (His/Her Royal Highness) styling upon turning 18, as was their birthright as Queen Elizabeth’s grandchildren.
As they’ve reached adulthood and their parents have stepped into more senior royal roles following the accession of King Charles and Edward’s inheritance of his late father’s title, it’s believed that Louise and James may not be called upon for major royal duties.
“I think Sophie — and Edward — have been careful to prepare their children for a life outside the working royal family,” royal biographer Sean Smith told GB News last year.
Speaking to The Sunday Times in 2020, 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.”
Just as James has followed in the King’s footsteps in tending to the royal estates, his older sister — who is expected to take a gap year after graduating from the University of St. Andrews last month —also inherited a storied royal pastime: carriage driving.
The young royal frequently takes part in competitions, having learned her love of carriage driving from her late grandfather, Prince Philip, who also taught her mother. Following his death in 2021, Prince Philip left his ponies and carriage to Louise.
She recently participated in her first competition of the season and was cheered on by her long-rumored boyfriend, Felix da Silva-Clamp,
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