James, Earl of Wessex made his debut appearance at Royal Ascot — and fans couldn’t get enough

Rarely-seen royal sparks fan frenzy with Royal Ascot debut

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh’s son made his first appearance.

James, Earl of Wessex made his debut (Image: Getty)

James, Earl of Wessex, delighted royal fans today as he made his debut appearance at Royal Ascot on the fourth day of the annual celebration. Looking classically dapper in a morning suit and top hat, James, 18, stood with his mother, the Duchess of Edinburgh, as they watched the events.

James’ first appearance at Ascot came on a particularly significant day as it was also his parents’ 27th wedding anniversary. The family was not joined by James’ elder sister, Lady Louise Windsor.

James missed Trooping the Colour last weekend; however, he recently joined his parents to attend his cousin Peter Phillips’s wedding to Harriet Phillips in Gloucestershire.

James, Earl of Wessex made his debut (Image: Getty)

The King’s nephew was no doubt also celebrating recently completing his A-Level exams at Radley College in Oxfordshire. There has yet to be any update on his future plans, whether he will go on to university or undertake a gap year.

As pictures of James making his debut alongside his parents were shared, royal fans were quick to gush about him. One social media user quipped: “Handsome James” alongside heart-eyed emojis.

A second said: “He’s going to be very tall and very handsome!”

Prior to his appearance at his cousin Peter’s wedding, he most recently joined the Royal Family at the annual Easter Sunday Matins service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, and was pictured walking with his father and speaking to the Princess of Wales as the family gathered outside the Church.

As he has missed the last four Trooping the Colour parades, the young royal has not appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony since King Charles’s Coronation in 2023.