James, Earl of Wessex's 'rewarding' role helping King Charles as future plans are revealed

James, Earl of Wessex, has received his A-level results and is officially heading to university in September. 

The 18-year-old, who is the son of Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie, will attend the Royal Agricultural University to study Rural Land & Property Management, Buckingham Palace said on Thursday. 

It's also good news for James's uncle, King Charles, as James has been working on his Sandringham estate this summer, The Sun reported earlier this week. 

The rural property in Norfolk covers approximately 20,000 acres, including farmland, woodland, and residences, which means it requires a lot of care and attention. 

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James's degree offers "routes to rewarding careers within rural business, estate management, consultancy and property in the countryside", meaning he'll be fully equipped to help out at royal estates in the future, if that's what he chooses. 

It means he could potentially support his uncle while remaining a private citizen, as he's not expected to become a working royal in the future. 

One royal fan wrote on social media: "How amazing is that news! Now we know why he’s spending his Summer working the land on the Sandringham Estate! Best of luck to him!"

The royal estates where James could help out 

James has already received valuable work experience at Sandringham, which will stand him in good stead as he arrives at the Cirencester-based campus in September. 

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But there are plenty of other royal options where help might be needed, such as Balmoral Castle in Scotland, which has around 50,000 acres of land. 

Prince William could also eye up advice from his cousin James in the future, as he manages the Duchy of Cornwall, which comprises agricultural land and property developments. 

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It's around 131,000 acres spread across 23 counties in England. 

James is following in his family's footsteps

Though he's the first British royal to study at the Royal Agricultural University, James is still following in the path of many of his relatives. 

King Charles is patron of the university, while Princess Anne's first husband, Captain Mark Phillips, studied there. 

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He's also following in the footsteps of his late grandfather, Prince Philip, who was the longest-serving ranger of Windsor Great Park, working to protect the land, animals and trees, with a famous love for land management. 

Meanwhile, James's mother, Duchess Sophie, is a long-time advocate for British agriculture and is the honorary president of LEAF farming. Her passion for food and farming was shown on her recent visit to Jersey in May.

James's older sister, Lady Louise Windsor, has just graduated from her English degree at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, and will now be taking a gap year.