This Young Royal Just Finished School — His Summer Plans Aren't What You'd Expect
The less-seen royal was promoted from Viscount Severn to the Earl of Wessex after his father became the Duke of Edinburgh in 2023.
James, Earl of Wessex, the younger son of Prince Edward and Sophie, has achieved a significant milestone in his life. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh attended the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham to celebrate their son's university placement. Buckingham Palace also confirmed that the young Earl has successfully received his A-Level results today, along with his peers, GBN News reported. The 18-year-old will be studying Rural Land & Property Management at the Royal Agricultural University in the Cotswolds, and he will not take a year out before his studies. Thus, marking the end of a royal chapter with his achievements.
James is 17th in the line of succession, and he is also the last of the eight grandchildren of the late Queen Elizabeth to complete his secondary education. He has passed out of Radley College, an independent boarding school in Oxfordshire; however, his full grades haven't been made public. A significant approach of not revealing the exact grades was adopted by his elder sister, Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, who confirmed her university admission to St Andrews. At 22, she worked at a garden centre during her summer break before pursuing a degree in English and International Relations at St Andrews. Throughout her studies, she held various part-time positions, including roles at the Royal Windsor Horse Show and the International Carriage Driving Competition. Having completed her degree, she is now preparing for a gap year, GBN News reported.
Most recently, the young Earl was seen enjoying his summer job on the Sandringham estate related to his university subject. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh's younger son was captured driving tractors for some pocket money. Royal staffers were left stunned by his humble behaviour: "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. He might be the King’s nephew, but he is more than happy to get his hands dirty and muck in. Driving tractors around Sandringham is not an easy task, and it can mean long hours," one of them stated. They further added that learning a good work ethic from a young age is beneficial, regardless of wealth, and the King appreciates that the younger royals share his love for the countryside, The Sun reported.
James was born eighth in line to the throne; however, he was promoted from Viscount Severn to the Earl of Wessex after his father became the Duke of Edinburgh in 2023. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have encouraged their children to pursue independent careers, emphasizing self-reliance over their royal status. An insider noted that James reflects this philosophy, indicating that he does not exhibit royal entitlement, which aligns with his parents' intentions.
