As the Royal Family settled into their summer break at Balmoral, there was another surprise about to be sprung, and this time it was the Earl of Wessex making an unexpected move.
The 18-year-old earl, who has just passed his A-Levels and is preparing to head to university in a few weeks, was spotted driving for the first time. James was seen at the wheel as he and his father toured the Balmoral estate while the royals gathered for their traditional holiday at the Scottish retreat.
It is the first time the teenager has been seen driving. In the United Kingdom it is legal to begin learning to drive from the age of seventeen, though there is no indication of how long James has been behind the wheel.
The Duke of Edinburgh was at his son’s side as they made their way around the estate. Princess Anne was also out and about, at the wheel of her own car and driving her husband, Sir Tim Laurence, while King Charles was likewise spotted driving around the grounds, as were Mike and Zara Tindall.
The relaxed scenes are a familiar feature of the family’s annual stay at Balmoral, where members of the Royal Family are often seen driving themselves around the private estate away from official duties. For James, the outing marked a small but notable milestone, captured during a summer that will also see him leave home for university.
