Even without their titles of prince and princess, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex, are still part of the family’s festive joy.
The young royals joined their parents, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, to sign this year’s 2025 Christmas card, giving fans a rare glimpse into the family’s off-duty adventures.
The card, revealed this week, celebrates Prince Edward and Sophie’s trip to Japan in September.
One image shows the Duke tackling an old wooden bridge while hiking, looking relaxed in a polo shirt and armed with walking sticks, while Sophie “takes the high road”, striking a picturesque pose in front of a mountain.
Inside, a candid photo shows Edward and Sophie smiling at each other during a sumo match at the Ryogoku Kokugikan Arena, a fun nod to their adventurous spirit.
The images are accompanied by a warm festive message: “Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”
Fans will also notice the signings of Louise and James, quietly reinforcing their role in family celebrations even as they eschew royal titles.
The festive reveal comes just days after James, Earl of Wessex, celebrated his 18th birthday on December 17, following in the footsteps of his older sister, Louise, who also chose not to adopt her princely title when she turns 18 in 2021.
The Duchess of Edinburgh previously explained the family’s approach, telling Good Housekeeping: “We try to raise them knowing that they are very likely to have to work for a living. So we made the decision not to use the HRH titles.
They have them and can decide to use them from the age of 18, but I think it’s very unlikely.”
And according to a friend of the couple speaking to EmailJames doesn’t care about titles.
“It’s the last kind of thing he’s interested in,” the source said, proving that the youngest Windsor is charting his own path.
