Real reason James Wessex will never get his father's title

James, Earl of Wessex was previously styled as Viscount Severn (Image: Getty)

James, Earl of Wessex may be the son of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, but he is not set to succeed to his father's title. Very little is known about James, who marks his 18th birthday today, as he is not a frequent presence at Royal Family events - but he will one day be impacted by a rule King Charles recently put in place.

In 2023, the King made the long-awaited announcement that Prince Edward and Sophie would be styled as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh - the title that had been held by Prince Philip since he married the then-Princess Elizabeth in 1947. Edward and Sophie had been previously known as the Earl and Countess of Wessex since their wedding in 1999, with James titled Viscount Severn from his birth in 2007.

He became the Earl of Wessex when his father's title was elevated by the King, but he does not expect any further changes anytime soon.

James will not be the Duke of Edinburgh (Image: Getty)

A statement from Buckingham Palace at the time said: "His Majesty The King has been pleased to confer the Dukedom of Edinburgh upon The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Forfar, on the occasion of His Royal Highness’s 59th birthday. The title will be held by Prince Edward for His Royal Highness’s lifetime.

"The Dukedom was last created for Prince Philip in 1947, upon his marriage to Princess Elizabeth, who held the title of Duchess of Edinburgh before acceding to the throne in 1952. The new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are proud to continue Prince Philip’s legacy of promoting opportunities for young people of all backgrounds to reach their full potential."

With the title being granted to Edward for his lifetime only, rather than as a hereditary honour, James will not be automatically entitled to assume the Dukedom.

It had previously been a hereditary Dukedom and was automatically assumed by King Charles following the death of Prince Philip in 2021. He held it for just over 500 days as it reverted back to the crown following his accession and the death of Queen Elizabeth in 2022.

James pictured with his grandfather, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (Image: Getty)

As it will no longer automatically pass to the present holder's eldest son, the Dukedom will revert to the crown and be held in abeyance following Edward's death, ready for the monarch to bestow it upon someone else if they wish to do so in the future.

As a result, unless the situation is changed by a further announcement or new Letters Patent, James will be known as the Earl of Wessex, as well as the Earl of Forfar - when in Scotland - for the rest of his life. 

It had long been expected that Edward and Sophie would one day be styled as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh

Sophie recalled the moment she and Edward were told Prince Philip would like them to take on the Dukedom of Edinburgh in an interview with the Telegraph. She said: “We sat there slightly stunned. He literally came straight in and said, ‘Right. I’d like it very much if you would consider that’.”