Using the royal wheel aged just 11, the Queen’s grandson
HE is only 11, but James, Viscount Severn, the Queen’s grandson, was allowed to get behind the wheel of his family Land Rover this week.
The son of the Earl and Countess of Wessex sat on his mother Sophie’s lap and took hold of the steering wheel as they enjoyed a spin around Windsor Castle on Easter Monday.
Despite his age, the young royal, who is 11th in line to the throne, is permitted to drive in the grounds of the royal residence as it is private land, meaning he does not need a provisional licence or insurance.
The youngster, dressed in a camouflage T-shirt and trousers, did not appear to be wearing a seat-belt as the car was moving – although it was travelling at a very slow speed and his mother seemed unperturbed.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman declined to comment.
James’s entire family was spotted out and about on the estate over the Easter weekend. His father, Prince Edward, and sister, Lady Louise, 15, were seen riding.
The Queen, 93, was also out on horseback while her retired husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, who turns 98 in June, was spotted carriage driving.
Last week the Duke – James’s grandfather – was seen behind the wheel of a car for the first time since he gave up his driving licence.
Philip voluntarily surrendered his licence after his car was flipped onto its side in a crash on the A149 near the Sandringham estate in January. The Duke took his Land Rover out for a spin in the grounds of Windsor Castle on Thursday.
Although he is now barred from public roads, he can, like his grandson James, legally drive on the private royal estates.
The Duke, wearing glasses, was spotted in the castle grounds as the Queen attended the Maundy service at nearby St George’s Chapel.