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The Earl of Wessex will study Rural Land & Property Management, Buckingham Palace has confirmed

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were in high spirits as they attended the European Athletics Championship in Birmingham today, just hours after Buckingham Palace confirmed their son had secured his university place.

Sophie, 61, and Edward, 62, were pictured alongside Dame Denise Lewis, UK Athletics President, on day four of the competition at Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr.

Earlier today, James, Earl of Wessex received his A-Level results alongside hundreds of thousands of other teenagers on what proved a record-breaking day for university admissions.

The 18-year-old will read Rural Land & Property Management at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester this autumn, heading straight into his studies without a gap year.

The Royal Agricultural University, founded in 1845, is the oldest agricultural college in the English-speaking world, with courses covering rural professional practice, planning, law, valuation and estate management.

Buckingham Palace declined to reveal James's specific grades, though the course requires a minimum of 104 UCAS points, equivalent to BCC.

The young royal, 17th in line to the throne, spent his summer months labouring on King Charles's Sandringham estate.

Earlier this month, the Radley College graduate was photographed operating a tractor on the Norfolk property, putting in long shifts alongside other farmworkers.

One estate employee admitted to being taken aback by the sight of the King's nephew in working clothes: "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 James was "more than happy to get his hands dirty and muck in" despite his royal connections, spending extended hours behind the wheel of farm machinery.

His hands-on summer job reflects the broader parenting philosophy adopted by Edward and Sophie, who have consistently prioritised giving their children as grounded an upbringing as their circumstances allow.

Central to this approach was the decision not to bestow HRH titles on James or his older sister, Lady Louise Windsor, at birth, opting instead for the styling afforded to children of an earl.

Both were given the option of adopting their prince and princess titles upon turning 18, though neither has chosen to do so.

The duchess has spoken publicly about ensuring her children are prepared to earn their own living.

Lady Louise, 22, took a job at a garden centre before beginning her degree at the University of St Andrews, gaining practical work experience in much the same spirit as her younger brother.

Beyond his agricultural ambitions, James has cultivated a passion for fishing that reportedly won admiration from gamekeepers at the late Queen Elizabeth II's Balmoral estate.

A source previously told The Sun: "His enthusiasm for fly fishing delighted Her Majesty because it's a sport beloved of James's great-granny, the late Queen Mother. James was in the Dee as often as possible, waders up to his armpits."

His mother Sophie, herself a keen angler, would frequently join him on the riverbank.