Prince Edward beams during surprise visit to Sunday service at Castle Rising Church in Norfolk

Youngest brother of King Charles, Prince Edward, 59, attended church in NorfolkREAD MORE: Kate Middleton's birthday: King and Queen lead tributes to the Princess of Wales as she turns 42 

Prince Edward appeared in high spirits as he today made a visit to a Castle Rising Church service in Norfolk today.

The Duke of Edinburgh was all smiles as he was pictured enjoying a stroll through the picturesque grounds of the historical building during the outing.

Father-of-two, Edward, looked dapper wrapped up warmly in a grey tweed coat against the grim January weather.

Underneath his coat, he donned what appeared to be a dark grey two-piece suit, paired with a crisp, white shirt.

The 59-year-old accessorised his Sunday outfit with black patent Oxford shoes and a striped tie featuring royal blue, yellow, navy, and green.

Prince Edward, also known as the Duke of Edinburgh (pictured at church in Norfolk today) is the youngest sibling of the King

The outing today (pictured) appeared to be a happy one, with guests appearing to smile as they spoke with one another

Edward did not appear to be photographed his wife Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, 58.

Neither did the couple’s children appear to feature in any of the pictures.

The couple, who married in 1999 share two children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex.

Lady Louise, who turned 20 last November, is an undergraduate at St Andrew’s University, where she studies English.

While she has been making some public appearances recently, on the whole, she has been protected from public life.

Sophie and James’ parents chose for the children not to have princess and prince titles when they were young so they could have as normal an upbringing as possible, and decide when they were older how much they wanted to be involved in public life.

The couple’s youngest child, James, was formerly known as Viscount Severn, but he inherited his father’s subsidiary title when his parents were promoted to Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh in March 2023, and is now known as the Earl of Wessex.

Like his sister, in recent times, James has been seen by the public at major royal events, however, for many, little is known about the 16-year-old, who lives at Bagshot Park, a 17th-century estate near Windsor, with his parents.

Edward appeared to beam for snappers as he attended the service today. He did not appear to be accompanied by his family

While Sophie may not be the most prolific royal, she was one of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s favourites.

The youngster had a difficult start in life: she was prematurely at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey, England, on November 8.

Medics realised she needed an emergency caesarean. She was showing signs of acute placental abruption, in which the lining separates from the uterus.

The moment Louise was born, weighing just 4lb 9oz, she was rushed to St George’s Hospital in Tooting, for special care.

According to the Mail On Sunday in 2014, Sophie had lost so much blood she was just 15 minutes from death.

The royal was snapped chatting with other church-goers at the Sunday service at the Castle Rising church today (pictured)

Louise was born with esotropia, a condition that turns the eyes outwards, and faced difficulties with her vision growing up.

She underwent her first eye procedure at just 18 months, but the procedure was unsuccessful and Lady Louise had to undergo a second attempt in 2014. This time the surgeons succeeded.

Louise was baptised in the private chapel at Windsor with godparents including Lady Sarah Chatto and Lord Ivar Mountbatten.

She brought a great sense of personal pride for Prince Philip as she became the first royal to officially carry the surname Mountbatten-Windsor – allowing Philip’s surname, Mountbatten, to continue into the Royal family’s future.

A former aide said Philip would be ‘thrilled’ that, 55 years after the birth of his first child, a member of the Firm would finally be carrying on the Mountbatten line.

Both Prince Edward (pictured) and his wife Sophie wanted their two children to enjoy as normal a life as possible

Little is known about James. The 15th in line to the throne, and the youngest grandchild of the late Queen Elizabeth II, he was born James Alexander Philip Theo Mountbatten-Windsor in Surrey on December 17, 2007.

When he was born, James (who was described by his father as ‘very cute and very cuddly’) was eighth in line to the throne, ahead of his older sister Lady Louise Windsor.

Since then, the introduction of the Succession to the Crown Act means that male children no longer overtake the female siblings when it comes to the order of succession.

The Act was passed in 2013, and only applies to those born after October 28, 2011.

James, who was reportedly one of the Queen’s favourite grandchildren, was baptised in the Private Chapel of Windsor Castle in April 2008.