rince Edward and Duchess Sophie are widely considered one of the strongest royal couples – and they tied the knot all the way back in 1999.

Since their big day, the royal couple has welcomed two children together – Lady Louise Windsor, 22, and James, Earl of Wessex, 18.

They welcomed their daughter on 8 November 2003 at 11.32pm after a difficult birth, and became parents again in 2007 with James’s arrival.

Unlike other royal children, Edward and Sophie kept their young family out of the spotlight as they grew up. Sightings were often limited to official engagements, which were few and far between, and the pair have mostly kept the utmost secrecy.

© Max Mumby/Indigo

Now that they’re all grown up, Louise, who is on a gap year after finishing university at St Andrews, and James, who this month started at the Royal Agricultural University, have opted out of royal titles and aren’t expected to take on duties for the Crown in the future.

Here, HELLO! reveals all you need to know about the Edinburgh family and their two children.

Lady Louise Windsor

Lady Louise was born prematurely on 8 November 2003 at the Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey. The royal was delivered through a caesarean section after Sophie suffered from a placental abruption, when the placenta separates before childbirth, which led to major bleeding for both Sophie and Louise.

As a precaution, Louise was transferred to St George’s Hospital in Tooting, while Sophie remained at Frimley while she recovered. Edward was not present for the birth of his daughter, as he was on an official trip to Mauritius at the time.

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This was not the end of Louise’s health woes, as the royal was born with esotropia, a condition where one or both of a person’s eyes turn inwards. Louise has had two operations to fix the condition; the first in 2006 was unsuccessful, but a further attempt in 2013 helped to correct it.

© Pool/Tim Graham Picture Library

In 2011, the then seven-year-old was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Prince William and Princess Kate. Louise has also joined her family abroad in South Africa, and as a birthday treat for her 15th birthday, Louise and Sophie sat in the audience of Strictly Come Dancing.

Louise has been making more public appearances over the past few years, taking on roles at a memorial service for her grandfather, Prince Philip, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, as well as Her Late Majesty’s state funeral and the coronation of her uncle, King Charles III.

© WPA Pool

Louise had a special bond with her grandfather, and she inherited his passion for carriage driving. Following his death in 2021, the late Duke of Edinburgh gifted her his personal carriage and driving ponies.

Following her 18th birthday in 2021, Louise was able to use the royal title of ‘Princess Louise’, however, so far she has decided against this.

© Max Mumby/Indigo

It was revealed last year that the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh’s daughter had joined the St Andrews’ University Officers’ Training Corps (UOTC), following in the footsteps of her grandmother the late Queen.

She was pictured on a military exercise, wearing combat fatigues, camouflage paint on her face and holding a helmet that appears to be emblazoned with her surname ‘Windsor’.

© University of St Andrews

In recent years, Lady Louise, who is 17th in line to the throne, has been photographed at carriage-driving competitions or with her boyfriend, Felix Da Silva Clamp.

Felix was there to support her at her graduation from the University of St Andrews in June, and to collect her Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award from Prince Edward at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. It is understood she will now be taking a gap year, working, volunteering, and travelling.

James, Earl of Wessex

Born on 17 December 2007, James was also born through a caesarean section, although his birth was less eventful than that of his older sister.

Edward was present for his son’s birth and later told the media the young royal was “like most babies, rather small, very cute and very cuddly”. James is the youngest grandchild of the late Queen and Prince Philip.

© Tim Graham Royal Photos

Like his sister, James has mostly kept out of the spotlight, with the young royal making one of his first official appearances when he was four, appearing at the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant.

He has since joined his family on a trip to South Africa and, like his older sister, has made more frequent appearances over the past few years with the Jubilee celebrations, state funeral and coronation.

© Mark Cuthbert

Upon his birth, James was referred to as Viscount Severn, a nod to the Welsh heritage of his mum. When his father and mother were made the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh in 2023, the royal’s title changed to James, Earl of Wessex, Edward’s previous title.

© Mark Cuthbert

It is unlikely that James will be made Duke of Edinburgh in the future, as this is not an inherited title. He also did not adopt the style “Prince James” when he turned 18.

This year, James has made an unusual number of public appearances, including at the Easter service, Harriet and Peter Phillips’ wedding, and making his Royal Ascot debut.

He also completed his A-levels at Radley College and is now studying Rural Land & Property Management at the Royal Agricultural University.