The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were miles away in Birmingham while their son James, Earl of WessexEarl of Wessex received his A-level results from Radley College on Thursday.
The royals were attending day four of the 2026 European Athletics Championship at Perry Barr's Alexander Stadium, where Sophie was spotted looking summery with sunglasses perched on her bouncy bob as she chatted with President of UK Athletics Dame Denise Lewis.
She wore the 'Nancy' blue and white summer dress from Lexy London featuring a structured collar with blue piping and a whimsical print.
© GettyThe pale colours and floaty silhouette offered the Duchess the perfect way to keep cool amid the "severe" weather warning the Met Office has put in place for Birmingham. An amber alert for "extreme heat" is covering much of the north, stretching from London to Sheffield.
© GettyTo deal with the 36-degree temperature in Birmingham, Sophie and Edward are advised to watch out for sunburn or heat exhaustion, especially since they are spending the day outside. Transport is also being affected, with warnings about potential power cuts and road delays.
This could pose a problem when the Duke and Duchess try to return home to Bagshot Park, where they will likely want to celebrate their son's exam results.
Family celebrations following the Earl of Wessex's exam grades
© UK Press via Getty ImagesOn Thursday morning, James collected his grades after completing his Sixth Form studies at Radley College in Oxfordshire.
Sharing his plans for the future, the royals released a statement that read: "Having achieved the grades he needed, The Earl of Wessex will be going to the Royal Agricultural University to study Rural Land & Property Management. He will head straight there without taking a year out."
A synopsis for James' course reads: "This course offers proven routes to rewarding careers within rural business, estate management, consultancy and property in the countryside. Strutt and Parker, Dalcour Maclaren, Savills and Fisher German are some of the nationally recognised businesses our graduates have gone on to work for – and so could you."
© GettyWhile he will be following in the footsteps of his older sister Lady Louise, who similarly pursued further education following her A-levels, James is the first member of the British royal family to study at the Royal Agricultural University.
However, notable royal alumni include Prince Gundakar of Liechtenstein and Ernst August von Hannover, the husband of Monaco's Princess Caroline.
