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The Earl of Wessex is following in his green-fingered uncle King Charles's footsteps as he plans to study rural land and property management at university this autumn.

James, the 18-year-old son of Prince Edward and Sophie, is heading to the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, after receiving his grades on A-level results day today.

The news follows reports that the young royal is spending the summer working as a farmhand on the monarch's Sandringham Estate.

His love for the outdoors is perhaps not at all surprising, given the Royal Family's - and particularly Charles's - passion for the environment.

The monarch is sure to be 'overjoyed' that his nephew is pursuing a future in the industry, a royal expert said, adding that James 'seems destined to be someone on whom Charles can rely in future'.

'The issue closest to the King's heart is the environment, and he was the first public figure to champion it with a speech in 1970,' author Richard Fitzwilliams told the Daily Mail.

'He has campaigned assiduously on this issue ever since and has continued to do so after becoming King.

'James will be spending the summer working as a farmhand on the Sandringham Estate having finished his A-levels at Radley.

His love for the outdoors is perhaps not at all surprising, given the Royal Family's - and particularly Charles's - passion for the environment

'This is basic work which involves a good deal of mucking in and also driving heavy machinery including tractors, but this practical introduction to farming is likely to serve him in good stead.

'He will undoubtedly have been inspired by the royal links with the Sandringham Estate and the changes each tenant of the property has made. King George V loved it there, broadcasting the first Christmas Message from Sandringham in 1932 and died there as did King George VI.

'Queen Elizabeth rejected plans to demolish it in favour of a contemporary building and it later became synonymous with the royal Christmas.

'The Duke of Edinburgh managed the estate since 1952 and made massive changes including creating the first royal truffle farm and redesigning Wood Cottage which he eventually retired to.

'King Charles has added a Lower Maze Garden which is linked to the labyrinth he used to play in as a child, designed so the children of visitors cannot get lost. He has also added a Topiary Garden and a Sundial Garden with plants selected to improve biodiversity.'

It's likely that James 'will have found these ancestral links inspiring', he added.

The course could also bring James closer to Princess Anne, as the university is just a few miles away from her home at Gatcombe Park.

'She also takes a very considerable interest in environmental matters, though does not agree with her brother King Charles on the issue of GM crops,' the writer added.

The Earl of Wessex is following in his green-fingered uncle King Charles's footsteps, as he will study rural land and property management at university this autumn

Another passionate environmental royal is the Princess of Wales, who 'has been outspoken on the need for us to get closer to nature and it is noteworthy that James supported the Great British Beach Clean for the Marine Conservation Society in 2020'.

Richard continued: 'He has also attended several formal royal events including Queen Elizabeth's Funeral, King Charles's Coronation and the Easter Service at Windsor last year and he seems destined to be someone on whom the monarch can rely in future years. Whether at some point he might be persuaded to do any royal duties, this is not planned but obviously time will tell.'

The Palace did not confirm what grades James achieved today, but to be accepted on to the course students need to achieve a minimum of 104 Ucas points – the equivalent of BCC at A-level.

The 17th in line to the throne, who has been dubbed 'Britain's most eligible bachelor' since he turned 18 in December, will head straight to university without taking a year out.

He was among hundreds of thousands of teenagers getting their results today, with record numbers being accepted into university.

James has developed an enthusiasm for outdoor pursuits, over the summer swapping royal engagements for work as a farmhand on his uncle King Charles's Sandringham estate.

The 18-year-old, who completed his A-levels at Radley College in Oxfordshire, was spotted behind the wheel of a tractor on the Norfolk estate earlier this month.

The Royal Agricultural University where James will study was established in 1845 and was the first agricultural college in the English-speaking world.

The earl's degree course is described as teaching 'the fundamentals of rural professional practice as well as planning and development, law, valuation, building construction and management'.

The website reads: '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.'

Speaking of James's time on the Sandringham estate, one employee said they were surprised to see him getting his hands dirty, having become accustomed to seeing him dressed smartly at royal events.

They noted: 'Everyone is so used to only seeing James smartly turned out with his family at functions at Christmas and Easter, so I had to do a double take.'

The worker added that despite being the King's nephew, James was 'more than happy to get his hands dirty and muck in' while working long hours driving tractors.

His reported summer job appears to reflect the approach taken by his parents, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, who have always wanted their children to have as normal an upbringing as possible, particularly by instilling a strong work ethic.

James's older sister, Lady Louise Windsor, 22, previously worked at a garden centre before heading to the University of St Andrews, giving her a taste of working life before furthering her studies.

Sophie has also previously spoken about preparing both of her children for the possibility of having to work for a living.