by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2019

James Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of Wessex; Credit – Wikipedia

James Alexander Philip Theo Mountbatten-Windsor was born on December 17, 2007, at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey, England. He is the second child of the two children of Prince Edward, The Duke of Edinburgh and Sophie Rhys-Jones, The Duchess of Edinburgh. As the eldest son of an Earl, he used his father’s subsidiary title, Viscount Severn. When James’ father was granted the title The Duke of Edinburgh in March 2023, James then used Earl of Wessex as his courtesy title.  James was admitted to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London on January 24, 2008, for a minor allergic reaction and was released from the hospital in a few days.

James has one elder sister:

• • Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor (born 2003)

photo: Daily Mail/Camera Press

Like his sister before him, James was christened in the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle by the Dean of Windsor on April 19, 2008. He was the first person christened wearing a new replica of the original christening gown worn by royal babies since 1840.

James’ godparents:

• Denise Poulton (a friend of his mother and trustee of the Wessex Youth Trust)
• Jeanye Erwin (his mother’s former flat-mate)
• Alastair Bruce of Crionaich
• Duncan Bullivant (a school friend of his father)
• Thomas Hill

The titles and styles of James and his sister Louise are often disputed. Under the terms of King George V’s Letters Patent of 1917, as grandchildren of the sovereign in the male line, they are Prince and Princess of the United Kingdom, with the style of Royal Highness. However, at the time of Edward and Sophie’s marriage, a press release was issued from Buckingham Palace. Along with announcing Prince Edward’s new title as Earl of Wessex, it stated that The Queen, with the agreement of Edward and Sophie, had decided that any children born to them should not be given the style of Royal Highness, but instead be given courtesy titles as children of an Earl. In 2023, when his father was granted the title Duke of Edinburgh, James began to use his father’s secondary title Earl of Wessex.

As they would already be well down the line of succession (Prince Edward was 7th in line at the time of his marriage), it is believed that this was done to alleviate some of the ‘burdens’ associated with having a royal title and to allow them somewhat more of a normal life. However, many argue that the press release does not supersede the terms of the 1917 Letters Patent and that Louise and James are, in fact, Prince and Princess. In June 2020, during an interview with the Sunday Times Magazine, James’ mother stated that she and her husband have raised their children with the intent that will work for a living as opposed to being working royals. She continued: “Hence we made the decision not to use HRH titles. They have them and can decide to use them from 18, but I think it’s highly unlikely.”

James has joined his parents on the balcony following the Trooping the Colour ceremonies and is often photographed with the family at more informal events, such as the Windsor Horse Show, and while attending church on the Sandringham Estate.

From 2011 to 2021,  James attended  Eagle House School, a coeducational preparatory school in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England, before enrolling at the private Radley College in Radley, Oxfordshire, England, an independent boarding school for boys.

James with his family on the Buckingham Palace balcony during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations for his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, 2022

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2019

Born on November 8, 2003, at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey, England Lady Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor is the elder of the two children and the only daughter of Prince Edward, The Duke of Edinburgh and Sophie Rhys-Jones. Louise was born prematurely and delivered by emergency cesarean section after her mother suffered placental abruption which caused significant blood loss to her mother and fetal distress to Louise. Mother and daughter spent two weeks in the hospital.

Lady Louise was christened in the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle on April 24, 2004, by the Dean of Windsor. She wore a christening gown that was first made for the christening of Queen Victoria’s eldest child in 1840. It has since been worn at almost all royal christenings since. However, due to the gown’s age and delicate condition, this would be the last time it was used.

Lady Louise’s godparents:

• Lady Alexandra Etherington (her father’s third cousin, daughter of James Carnegie, 3rd Duke of Fife)
• Lady Sarah Chatto (her father’s first cousin)
• Lord Ivar Mountbatten (her father’s second cousin, son of David Mountbatten, 3rd Marquess of Milford-Haven)
• Rupert Elliott (her father’s friend from Cambridge University)
• Francesca Schwarzenbach (her parents’ friend)

photo: The Royal Post

Louise has one younger brother:

• James Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of Wessex (born 2007)

Lady Louise with her family at the Platinum Jubilee service of her grandmother Queen Elizabeth II

The titles and styles of Louise and her brother James are often disputed. Under the terms of King George V’s Letters Patent of 1917, as grandchildren of the sovereign in the male line, they are Prince and Princess of the United Kingdom, with the style of Royal Highness. However, at the time of Edward and Sophie’s marriage, a press release was issued from Buckingham Palace. Along with announcing Prince Edward’s new title as Earl of Wessex, it stated that Queen Elizabeth II, with the agreement of Edward and Sophie, had decided that any children born to them should not be given the style of Royal Highness, but instead, be given courtesy titles as children of an Earl.

As they would already be well down the line of succession (Prince Edward was 7th in line at the time of his marriage), it is believed that this was done to alleviate some of the ‘burdens’ associated with having a royal title and to allow them somewhat more of a normal life. However, many argue that the press release does not supersede the terms of the 1917 Letters Patent and that Louise and James are, in fact, Prince and Princess. In June 2020, during an interview with the Sunday Times Magazine, Sophie stated that she and her husband have raised their children with the intent that will have to work for a living as opposed to being working royals. She continued: “Hence we made the decision not to use HRH titles. They have them and can decide to use them from 18, but I think it’s highly unlikely.”

Lady Louise was born with esotropia, a condition that causes one or both eyes to turn inwards. She underwent a minor operation in 2006 and is believed to have undergone a second operation in 2013.

Lady Louise attended St George’s School at Windsor Castle.  In 2017, she started at St. Mary’s School Ascot, a Roman Catholic independent day and boarding school for girls in South Ascot, Berkshire, England. Louise graduated from St. Mary’s School Ascot in 2022. In September 2022, Louise began studying English at the University of St. Andrews in St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland. Her first cousin Prince William, Duke of Cambridge is a graduate of the University of St. Andrews as is his wife.

Lady Louise with her cousin Prince Harry, at the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton –  photo: Daily Mail/PA

Lady Louise made her first big appearance on the royal stage in 2011, serving as a bridesmaid at the wedding of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, now The Prince and Princess of Wales. She is also seen at some larger events, such as the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony.

Lady Louise followed in the footsteps of her grandfather The Duke of Edinburgh and took up carriage driving.  The Duke of Edinburgh took up the sport at age 50 after he quit polo.

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by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2019

Embed from Getty Images 

On May 8, 2019, it was announced that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had named their newborn son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. I am going to admit up front that I am not crazy about the name Archie. However, naming a child is, of course, the prerogative of the parents. Archie is a name the Duke and Duchess liked and Harrison is from an English surname that means “son of Harry” and is quite fitting in this circumstance.

The names Alexander, Spencer, James, and Arthur were the betting favorites in the United Kingdom’s legal betting parlors. Less than 100 people bet money on Baby Sussex being named Archie. One lucky woman won more than £18,000 ($23,428) after she guessed that Baby Sussex’s name would be Archie. The unnamed woman bet £120 ($168) on the name at 150/1 odds after Baby Sussex was born on her grandson Archie’s birthday. She plans to put the winnings aside for her grandson.

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Derivation of the Names

Archie is a diminutive or nickname of the name Archibald which comes from the Old French Archaunbault and from Old High German Erchanbald. The first part of the name (archi-, archaun-, erchan-) means genuine. The second part of the name (-bald, -bault, -bald) means strong or bold. The name came to England via the Norman Conquest of 1066 and during the late Middle Ages, Archibald became a common name in Scotland.

Harrison is generally known as a surname although it is also used a first name and, in the case of Baby Sussex, as a middle name. In the British Isles, the origins of some surnames are linked to occupations. Obvious examples are Smith, Baker, and Carpenter. Other surnames can be linked to a place, for example, Hill or Green (a village green). There are also surnames that describe physical characteristics of the original bearer of the surname such as Brown, Short, or Thin. Lastly, there are surnames that used the first name of the original bearer plus the word “son” – Jackson originally came from Jack’s son and Harrison, originally came from Harry’s son.

Mountbatten-Windsor is the surname used by some of the male-line descendants of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Generally, Mountbatten-Windsor would be used by male-line descendants without royal styles. In 1917, because of anti-German sentiment during World War I, King George V changed the name of the royal house and family from Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to Windsor.

• Unofficial Royalty: Birth of the House of Windsor

Prince Philp’s mother was born Princess Alice of Battenberg. In 1917, Battenberg was anglicized to Mountbatten. Shortly before Prince Philip became engaged to the future Queen Elizabeth II, he relinquished his Greek and Danish royal titles, adopted the surname Mountbatten from his mother’s family, and became a naturalized British subject.

In 1960, Queen Elizabeth II issued Letters Patent stating: “while I and my children will continue to be styled and known as the House and Family of Windsor, my descendants, other than descendants enjoying the style, title or attributes of Royal Highness and the titular dignity of Prince or Princess, and female descendants who marry and their descendants, shall bear the name Mountbatten-Windsor.”

• Heraldica: What is the surname of the royal family?

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Archie in the United Kingdom

Archie has become a popular name in the United Kingdom. According to the Office of National Statistics, Archie was the 19th most popular name for boys in England with 2,651 boys being named Archie in 2017. Government statistics for 2017 in the other parts of the United Kingdom show Archie was the 15th most popular boys’ name in Wales and the 19th most popular boys’ name in Scotland. Archie is not quite as popular in Northern Ireland where it came in at number 32.

• Office of National Statistics – Baby Names in England and Wales 2017
• Babies’ First Names | National Records of Scotland
• Baby Names | Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency

2017 – Most Popular Boys’ Names in England from Office of National Statistics

1. Oliver
2. Harry
3. George
4. Noah
5. Jack
6. Jacob
7. Muhammad
8. Leo
9. Oscar
10. Charlie
11. William
12. Henry
13. Alfie
14. Thomas
15. Joshua
16. Freddie
17. James
18. Arthur
19. Archie
20. Logan

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Archie in the United States

The name Archie is very uncommon in the United States where I am located. In 2017, Archie did not even make the top 1,000 boys’ names in the United States with only 156 boys being named Archie. The last time the name Archie was in the top 1,000 boys’ names in the United States was in 1988 when it was number 889. Living in a country of 327,000,000 people, Americans are not very likely to encounter anyone named Archie.

• Social Security Administration: Get Ready For Baby – Popular Names

2017 – Most Popular Boys’ Names in the United States from the Social Security Administration

1. Liam
2. Noah
3. William
4. James
5. Logan
6. Benjamin
7. Mason
8. Elijah
9. Oliver
10. Jacob
11. Lucas
12. Michael
13. Alexander
14. Ethan
15. Daniel
16. Matthew
17. Aiden
18. Henry
19. Joseph
20. Jackson

In the United States, the name Archie conjures up visions of two fictional characters. Described as a lovable bigot, Archie Bunker, played by actor Carroll O’Connor, was a character on the 1970s situation comedy All in the Family. Archie Andrews was first created as a comic book character in the 1940s and is now appearing as a character in Riverdale, an American teen drama television series based on the characters of the Archie comic books. Perhaps this accounts for this American’s somewhat resistant attitude toward the name. The only famous American Archie I can think of is Archie Manning (born 1949), a National Football League quarterback.  However, I really do not know him through his sports achievements but rather through his sons’ sports achievements. Archie Manning is the father of two National Football League quarterbacks Peyton Manning, who retired in 2016, and Eli Manning, who still plays for the New York Giants.

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Royal Connections

Margaret Tudor; Credit – Wikipedia

Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus; Credit – Wikipedia

There are two royal connections to the name Archibald. Margaret Tudor, daughter of King Henry VII of England and sister of King Henry VIII of England, married three times. Her first marriage was to James IV, King of Scots. After James IV was killed at the Battle of Flodden, which was fought against the army of his brother-in-law Henry VIII, Margaret’s seventeen-month-old son succeeded his father as James V, King of Scots. Under the terms of James IV’s will, Margaret was the regent for her son as long as she did not remarry.

Margaret sought an ally with the pro-English House of Douglas, and so she secretly married Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus. The marriage stirred up the jealousy of the nobles and the opposition of the faction supporting French influence in Scotland. Civil war broke out, and Margaret was stripped of her regency. Margaret and Douglas escaped to England where she gave birth to their only child Lady Margaret Douglas at Harbottle Castle in Northumberland, England.

Lady Margaret Douglas married Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox and had two sons including Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley who married his first cousin Mary, Queen of Scots, the daughter of James V, King of Scots, and therefore the granddaughter of Margaret Tudor. They were the parents of James VI, King of Scots who succeeded to the English throne upon the death of Queen Elizabeth I of England as King James I of England.  Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor is, therefore, a descendant of Margaret Tudor and her first husband James IV, King of Scots and also her second husband Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus.

James V, King of Scots was the only child of James IV, King of Scots and Margaret Tudor to survive infancy. His daughter Mary, Queen of Scots was his only surviving child and she succeeded her father when she was six days old. However, James V had a number of illegitimate children. One of his illegitimate children was Lady Jean Stewart. Jean married Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll. The couple had no children and divorced after twenty years of marriage.

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