As Viscount Severn turns 17, what do we know about the young royal?

Many royals are keen motorists, Princes William and Harry both passed their driving tests first time soon after their 17th birthdays, while both Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were behind the wheel into their 90s.

Prince Edward and Sophie's son, James, Viscount Severn, celebrates his 17th birthday today and could be the next royal on the road.

William celebrated after he passed his driving test on the first attempt in July 1999. His father, Prince Charles, gifted him a VW Golf for his birthday and the royal was keen to get on the road. 

Charles was said to be 'delighted' by his son's achievement.

William took his test at a centre in Cirencester, accompanied by his bodyguard, Inspector Richard Lette.

The prince had been driving on the private roads of the Balmoral estate since age 12.

Like his brother, Harry also passed his driving test at 17 years old.

He reportedly gained his driving license on New Year's Eve in 2001, also on his first attempt. 

James appears to already be taking after his royal cousins. He was pictured seemingly driving around the private grounds of Windsor when he was just ten years old in April 2018. 

He was sitting on someone's lap according to sources, but it is unclear who was accompanying him in the vehicle. 

James was spotted behind the wheel again in 2019 when he was 11 years old.

He took the family Land Rover for a spin around the privter grounds of Windsor Castle with his mother, Sophie, sitting beside him in the passenger seat

The late Queen's youngest grandchild was born on December 17, 2007 to Prince Edward, now the Duke of Edinburgh, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.

James arrived by planned caesarean section at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey and weighed 6lb 2oz.

He was named James Alexander Philip Theo Mountbatten-Windsor and inherited his father's subsidiary title of Viscount Severn. 

He has since inherited the title of the Earl of Wessex after Edward was made Duke of Edinburgh.

The name Philip is a tribute to his grandfather, the late Duke of Edinburgh, while Theo is Sophie's grandfather's name. 

James was born eighth in line to the throne - ahead of his older sister Lady Louise. 

Since then, the introduction of the Succession to the Crown Act means that male children no longer overtake the female siblings when it comes to the order of succession.

The Act was passed in 2013, and applies only to those born after October 28, 2011.

As such, James's place in the order of succession remains ahead of Louise and was unchanged following the birth of Zara Tindall's third baby Lucas.

This is because while Zara's mother Princess Anne is older than Edward, she was also born before the Act came into force.

James's safe arrival came as a relief after his older sister was born prematurely due to complications that put both her and Sophie in danger. 

After he was born, Edward described him as 'small, cute and cuddly.'

When asked why they hadn't chosen a name before the birth, the prince said: 'You've got to get to know the small person who's just come into the world before you pick a name.' 

James lives at Bagshot Park - a 17th Century estate near Windsor - with his parents. 

He was baptised in the Private Chapel of Windsor Castle in April 2008.

Neither James nor his sister have the title Prince or Princess due to their parents' desire to give them as normal life as possible, without the burden of royal titles. 

Subsequently, little is known about him thanks to his parents desire for family privacy

Sophie told the Times back in 2020 how James and Louise enjoy sleepovers, parties with friends and walking their dogs.

She also mentioned their 'regular' schools. At the time, James had reportedly attended two independent, co-educational prep schools near his home - Eagle House and St George's.

'I guess not everyone's grandparents live in a castle, but where you are going is not the important part, or who they are. When they are with the Queen, she is their grandmother,' Sophie added.   

James embarked on his first overseas engagement in April 2015 at eight years old. 

He joined his parents and sister in South Africa where they visited the Ubunye Foundation in Grahamstown.

Sophie acts as patron for the non-profit organisation, which helps rural communities become self-reliant, and said at the time: 'It's very important for my children to see immediately from the moment that they come to South Africa that it's not just about wonderful, beautiful animals and beautiful scenery.

'That there is a huge need to support, protect and nurture the communities that live around and within these beautiful surroundings,' she added, reported The Express.

He has made multiple public appearances since, including in 2022 after the Queen passed away.

James stood by the Queen's coffin with her other grandchildren - William, Harry, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Zara Tindall, Peter Phillips and Louise  at a vigil at Westminster Hall.

He also attended his grandmother's funeral with his family on September 19, 2022.

More recently, he was at an Easter Service with his family at St George's Chapel in Windsor. 

The 16-year-old towered above his mother and looked as though he had nearly outgrown his father, who is around 6ft tall.