James Wessex, 16, son of Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie, is unlikely to become a working royal, as he seeks to carve his own path similar to his cousins Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall. Educated away from the public eye and preparing for his GCSEs, James is expected to pursue a career outside the traditional royal duties in light of his father’s efforts for a normal upbringing and King Charles’s plan to streamline the monarchy. Known for his rare public appearance at an Easter Mattins service in Windsor, James’s future appears to be one of independence, following non-royal pursuits.

In related royal news, James’s sister, Lady Louise Windsor, encountered the repercussions of a 900-year-old rule preventing her from inheriting a major royal title. Instead, the title of Duke of Edinburgh was granted to her younger brother James by King Charles, following the wishes of the late Prince Philip. This decision is in line with the tradition that only the eldest living son and his descendants inherit peer titles, leaving Lady Louise with the courtesy title of “Lady”. While Prince Edward, now the Duke of Edinburgh, and his son James continue to hold royal titles, the future may see these titles, including the Duke of Edinburgh, revert back to the Crown with potential candidacy for Prince William and Princess Kate’s children, particularly Prince Louis. The ancient inheritance rules thus continue to influence the distribution of titles within the British royal family.