The Earl of Wessex, King Charles III’s nephew, is understood to be attending the Royal Agricultural University after achieving the grades needed for his chosen course.

James, who is the son of Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, will study rural land and property management at the Cirencester-based university.

He received his A-level results alongside thousands of other students on Thursday.

The 18-year-old’s grades and subjects, which he studied at Radley College, Oxfordshire, have not been disclosed.

The earl’s degree course is described on the university’s website as teaching “the fundamentals of rural professional practice as well as planning and development, law, valuation, building construction and management”.

“You will develop an essential understanding of sustainability and wider business management to enable you to provide effective advice about farm, estate and other rural businesses while gaining an overall understanding of the multi-functionality of rural practice.”

It comes as the total number of A-level entries has topped 900,000 for the first time, with the population of 18-year-olds increasing this year.

Meanwhile, the proportion of A-level entries awarded top grades has risen for the third year in a row, likely driven by the popularity of maths and students scoring highly in it.

More than a quarter (28.5 per cent) of UK entries were awarded an A or A* grade, up by 0.2 percentage points on last year, when 28.3 per cent achieved the top grades.

The proportion of UK entries awarded the top A* grade this year has also risen, by 0.2 percentage points to 9.6 per cent, compared to 9.4 per cent in 2025, and it is higher than when it stood at 7.7 per cent in 2019.

The earl’s sister Lady Louise Windsor was watched by their parents, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, when she graduated from the University of St Andrews earlier this summer with a degree in English and international relations.

She will be taking a gap year before exploring career opportunities.

Her brother will start his degree course this autumn.

Edward and his wife Duchess Sophie spent part of the day their son’s exam results were announced in Birmingham attending the European Athletics Championship, and they were hosted by Dame Denise Lewis, president of UK Athletics.