What title does Prince Edward's son use?

zbeckabee

James, Viscount Severn (James Alexander Philip Theo; born 17 December 2007) is a member of the British Royal Family. He is the second child and only son of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Sophie, Countess of Wessex. He is also the youngest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh, Viscount Severn is eighth in line to the throne. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James,_Viscount_Severn Mar 16 09, 11:09 PM

author

I notice that he, unlike # 1-7 in the line to the throne, does not have the title HRH (His Royal Highness). Why is that so? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_of_succession_to_the_British_throne Mar 17 09, 7:08 PM

zbeckabee

Good question, Author! Here's what I found: Letters patent issued in 1917 (and still in force today) assign a princely status and the style of 'Royal Highness' to all male-line grandchildren of a monarch. The baby is thus entitled to all of these, and as such would be referred to as His Royal Highness Prince James of Wessex. However, when his parents married, it was announced that, in accordance with their wishes, their children would not be styled as Princes or Princesses with the style Royal Highness, but rather as the children of an Earl. The eldest son of an earl is customarily accorded one of his father's subsidiary titles by courtesy, and so James is referred to as Viscount Severn, despite his legal status as a prince. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viscount_Severn Mar 17 09, 7:22 PM