As the Royal Family settled into their summer break at Balmoral, there was another surprise about to be sprung.
This time, it’s the Earl of Wessex who has made an unexpected move.
The 18 year old earl, who has just passed hi A-Levels and who is preparing to go to university in just a few weeks’ time, was spotted driving for the first time.
James was seen at the wheel as he and his father drove around the Balmoral estate as the royals gathered for their traditional holiday at the Scottish estate.
It’s the first time that the teenager has been seen driving. it’s legal to start to learn to drive in the UK from the age of seventeen but there’s no indication of how long James has been behind the wheel.
The Duke of Edinburgh was at his son’s side as they toured the estate. Princess Anne was also seen out and about, at the wheel of her own car, and driving her husband, Sir Tim Laurence.
King Charles was also spotted driving around the estate as were Mike and Zara Tindall.
It’s believed many of the Royal Family are now in Balmoral where they gather every summer. The Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their children, arrived there on Thursday. Their arrivals have co-incided with the confirmation from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that they will be returning to the UK in the coming weeks.
Harry and Meghan have indicated they will make the country their base before the end of August as their two children, Archie and Lilibet, are enrolled in British schools and will be starting term in September.
It’s understood the couple will live in a non royal residence and will be private citizens. They will not become working royals and there will be no ‘half in half out’ arrangement, the idea they floated when they first said they wanted to step back as senior Royals in early 2020.
The decision to return appears to be a recent one. It’s been reported that The King was only told last Sunday and that no mention of the possibility of a relocation had been mentioned to him by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex when he hosted them for afternoon tea in July at his country home, Highgrove House.
Since the announcement of their relocation, it’s also been reported that the Duchess of Sussex could return to acting and that part of the reason for the move to the UK is because of her potential comeback on the small screen.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry is also due to pay his share of the initial £9.5 million in costs as part of the case he and several others lost against Associated Newspapers by the end of August.
