Prince Edward Young: See King Charles’ Brother Then & Now Amid Sudden Rise in the Royal Family

He’s the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and these photos of Prince Edward young show just how far he’s come. At birth, Edward was third in line for the British throne and is now 14th in the line of succession.

Born on March 10, 1964, Prince Edward was given the title of Earl of Wessex by his mother upon his marriage in 1999. Before that, he was known, simply, as Prince Edward. His childhood was largely spent in the public eye due to his royal status, but there is relatively little known about his early years compared to his older siblings, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, and Prince Andrew.

He attended Gibbs School, Heatherdown School, and then Gordonstoun School in Scotland, following the tradition of his family. His time at Gordonstoun, like his father and elder brothers, Prince Charles and Prince Andrew, was said to be formative, emphasizing outdoor activities and character-building exercises, but he’s reported to be more reserved compared to his siblings.

After completing his education, Prince Edward pursued a career in the Royal Marines but eventually withdrew from the training program. He then decided to pursue a career in entertainment and production, establishing his own television production company, Ardent Productions, in 1993.

Amid his brother King Charles’ cancer battle, Edward has had to step in and take on more responsibility. Recently, he was dubbed Colonel of the Scots Guard—the ceremonial head of the Scots Guards regiment in the British Army.

“It was a huge privilege, but also quite a lot of weight of expectation as well,’ Edward said, as he marked his 60th Birthday. “I mean, there’s an awful lot of legacy that came with that title and everything that my father had done, especially when you’re not inheriting it—this is a choice.” On getting used to his new title, Edward said: ‘It’s just the weirdest and strangest feeling.”

Prince Edward young

In photos of Prince Edward young, you can see a sense of quiet ambition.