Viscount Severn' Name Sakes
In December 2007 Buckingham Palace announced the birth of the names of the TRH Earl and Countess of Wessex eldest son, James Alexander Philip Theo. This article explores the possible inspiration behind Viscount Severn's names.
James
There can be fewer more British Royal names than that of James. It is the name of one of the greatest English and Scottish Kings and recollects the greatest of one of the greatest of the British royal houses - the Stuarts. But I somehow doubt that it was in the annual of royal history that severed as the inspiration of the name of the Earl of Wessex's first son. Rather it is something more common and unique.
There was one hero that stood out above the others for the young Prince Edward. The savy and character of James Bond caught the idea of millions world wide, but what the appeal was to Edward can only be guessed at. Edward never missed a chance to go see the Hollywood movies of his favourite MI5 agent and read his favorite Ian Flemming paperbacks again and again.
HM the Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh cultured their son's interested in the fictional spy takening him to the studio when one of the movies where been made and introducing him to Sean Connery and Roger Moore. Edward interest was further arosed when he attended Gordontoun with Jason Connery. But the press were largerly unaware of Edward's interest until 1982 when a journalist from a British newspaper phoned the young prince at hostel in New Zealand where he was spending six months as a English tutor. Edward was initial astonished that the jounalist has obtained his number so easily but soon overcome his anger and shyness. The journalist was soon to hear that Edward hadn't heard from his family in the months that he was there, having read more about his family's going ons in the local news papers, but what he was most missing about England was that he was missing the latest installment of the Bond movies that was currently showing in England.
In naming his son James, Edward recalls those happy childhood memories of sitting anomously in movie theatres, perhaps already rekindling the dream of filming movies himself. But it also perhaps shows what Edward deems to be the best of British qualities - an easiness with women, skill and talent ready to be used at Her Majesty's calling. He is to Edward the epitimee of an English gentleman with a license to kill to boot.
Alexander
You don't have to go far to find the inspiration for Alexander as part of James' name. The Duke and Duchess of Glochester eldest son is Alexander, the Earl of Ulster. It is also prolific as a femine name - natably Princess Alexander, Alexander Mountbatten ( daughter of Ivar Mountbatten and god-daughter of the Countess of Wessex) and Lady Alexander Etherington. a distant cousin of Earl Wessex and godmother of Lady Louise Windsor. For the benefit of this article we shoual talk about the Earl of Ulster.
TRH The Duke and Duchess of Glouchester eldest son, Alexander is the model of young and modern monarchy. He keeps to himself and doesn't create fuss or embarressing tabiod headlines. As an officer in the British army he served in Kosvo and Iraqi, which the PR accompaniment that followed Prince Harry. He is married to Dr. Claire Booth and they have one son, Xan.