Thousands of pupils across the UK have collected their A-level results on Thursday morning – and a member of the royal family is amongst them.
James, Earl of Wessex, has collected his exam grades after completing his Sixth Form studies at Radley College in Oxfordshire earlier this year.
Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie's son will be heading to the Royal Agricultural University to study Rural Land & Property Management , Buckingham Palace has now revealed.
In a statement, they said: "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."
© UK Press via Getty ImagesJames's exact grades remain unknown, but his parents will be very proud regardless due to the tough nature of the exams.
The 18-year-old is following in the footsteps of his older sister, Lady Louise Windsor, who also went straight to university after receiving her own grades in 2022. Lady Louise, 22, has now chosen to take a gap year after her studies – as was revealed when she graduated from the University of St Andrews in Scotland last month – so James may choose to one day do the same.
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,"
James is the first member of the British royal family to study at the Royal Agricultural University, although Princess Anne's first husband, Captain Mark Phillips, studied there. The institution has some royal alumni, including Prince Gundakar of Liechtenstein and Ernst August von Hannover, who is now the husband of Monaco's Princess Caroline.
The Royal Agricultural University is situated in Cirencester, which is nine miles away from Princess Anne's home, Gatcombe Park.
How is James celebrating his results?
As with many students across the UK, James will likely be celebrating his results with family and friends after months of anticipation.
However, his celebrations with his parents, Duchess Sophie and Prince Edward, may be briefer than expected.
© Getty ImagesThis is because the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are scheduled to attend the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham on Thursday, before heading to Edinburgh on Friday.
It was also reported earlier this week that James has secured a summer job for King Charles's Sandringham estate, working as a farmhand, according to The Sun.
It's not known if James will complete a work shift on his results day, with workers previously doing a "double-take" when they saw the King's nephew driving tractors on the farm, the paper said.
James, Earl of Wessex's most recent public appearances
Though James has had a busy year with his final year of school, he's still made several public appearances.
© Samir Hussein/WireImageHe was most recently seen at Royal Ascot, making a surprise debut as he filled in for his father, Prince Edward, in June.
The royal also attended Harriet and Peter Phillips's royal wedding in June, and the Easter service at St George's Chapel in Windsor in April.
On all of these occasions, James's height got everyone talking as he seemed to tower over his parents – showing he's definitely ready for his next steps.
