Even without their prince and princess titles, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex, are still part of the family’s festive cheer.
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 of the family’s off-duty adventures.
The card, revealed this week, celebrates Prince Edward and Sophie’s September trip to Japan.
One image shows the Duke tackling an old wooden bridge on a hike, looking relaxed in a polo shirt and armed with walking sticks, while Sophie “takes the high road” and strikes a scenic pose in front of a mountain.
Inside, a candid shot captures Edward and Sophie smiling at each other during a sumo wrestling match at the Ryogoku Kokugikan arena, a fun nod to their adventurous spirit.
Accompanying the photos is a warm, festive message: “I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”
Fans will also spot Louise and James’ signatures, quietly cementing their role in family celebrations, even as they eschew royal titles.
The celebratory revelation 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 similarly chose not to adopt her princely title when she turns 18 in 2021.
The Duchess of Edinburgh previously explained the family’s approach to Good Housekeeping: “We try to bring them up with the understanding that they are very likely to have to work for a living. That’s why we took the decision not to use HRH titles.
They have them and may decide to use them from 18, but I think that is highly unlikely.”
And according to a friend of the couple who speaks to MailJames couldn’t care less about titles.
“That’s the last kind of thing he’s interested in,” the source said, proving the youngest Windsor is carving out her own path.
