James, the Earl of Wessex, has delighted royal fans by making a rare public appearance today. The young royal, who celebrated his 18th birthday earlier this month, joined his parents, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and his sister, Lady Louise, as they walked to church on Christmas morning.

He was last pictured on April 20, when he attended the traditional Easter Sunday Mattins Service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor with a small number of senior royals. James didn’t attend Trooping the Colour in June, with his last appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony came on May 6, 2023, for his uncle, King Charles’s coronation.

The Edinburgh family joined dozens of royals for the annual Christmas Day walkabout, including the King and Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three young children.

James and his mother, Duchess Sophie (Image: PA)

Each year, members of the family make the short walk from Sandringham House to St Mary Magalene Chuch for a morning service.

On the way back, they stop to greet members of the public who have lined the pathway. Many gather from the early hours to ensure they get a good spot to wish the Royal Family a Merry Christmas.

It was estimated that some 40 royals would join the King at Sandringham this year. Appearing alongside the King en route to church were Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

The York sisters’ appearance signalled an apparent show of unity in the wake of the ongoing scandal surrounding their father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and his links with the paedophile financier, Jeffrey Epstein.

James joined his sister Lady Louise and parents Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh (Image: PA Images)

Prince Edward was a few paces behind his brother, King Charles (Image: Getty)

The spectacle of the Windsors walking to church attracted a large crowd on a cold but sunny morning in Norfolk. Hundreds braved the elements to see Charles and Camilla greeted by the Reverend Canon Dr Paul Rhys Williams before the Christmas Day service began.

Many among the crowd waiting to see the royals walk to church brought festive cheer by donning red and white Christmas hats.

Currently 16th in line to the throne, James, the Earl of Wessex, has largely kept out of the spotlight. Edward and Sophie took the decision early in their children’s lives not to use HRH titles, leaving it up to James and Louise to decide for themselves when they turned 18.

Royal author, Robert Jobson, told Hello! magazine it was likely James would follow his sister’s example and decline to use the title. James remains legally entitled to be known as HRH Prince James, despite maintaining the title, Ear of Wessex, Mr Jobson said.