Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex have two children, Lady Louise, 16, and James, Viscount Severn, 12, who will inherit the titles and privileges of their father one day. When Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, inherits his father Prince Philip's title as the Duke of Edinburgh, it won't be passed down to his oldest child.
According to reports, the Edinburgh title will automatically go to James, Viscount Severn, who is six years younger than his sister, upon Prince Edward's passing. It's an outdated law that skips female members of the royal family in the peerage.
In the line of succession to the British throne, James is actually 12th, while Louis is 13th. The Wessex children were born before the rules were changed in 2013.
However, sources believe that Prince Edward will initiate another change to this law, especially with Lady Louis coming off age soon. When she's an adult, she can decide if she wants to become a working royal or chose a different path.
In an interview with The Sunday Times, the Countess of Wessex said that she hopes her children will decide to work for a living and not become dependent on the royal coffers. Sophie said that she and Prince Edward have been trying to instill in their kids that, while their family background is different, they can have normal lives.
Sophie believes that Lady Louise and James will not take the same path and become working royals. But whatever they decide, this won't change the bond they have with their grandmother and grandfather.
Lady Louise is reportedly close to Queen Elizabeth because she has the same love for riding and horses. The Queen's youngest grandchild also joins competitions and is a budding equestrienne, just like her cousin Zara and grand aunt Princess Anne. James, on the other hand, bonds with Prince Philip in their shared love for the outdoors.
Meanwhile, the Wessex family have been staying in lockdown at their home in Bagshot Park. Sophie was seen out for charity work in April and June while following social distancing protocols and wearing a face mask.
Prince Edward also did a few video calls to the charity he supports during the quarantine period. It's still unclear if the Wessexes will be visiting Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip in Balmoral this summer. Of the Queen's children, only Princess Anne was confirmed to have met Her Majesty in person in the recent week.
