King Charles’ nephew James, Earl of Wessex, is ready for his next chapter. The 18-year-old royal has completed his A-levels and now has his university plans set. His choice also connects him to a subject close to the king’s interests.
King Charles’ nephew James, Earl of Wessex, is heading to university to study Rural Land & Property Management
According to People, James will attend the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, this fall. He will study Rural Land & Property Management, setting him on a path focused on the countryside and land stewardship.
James received his A-level results on Thursday, Aug. 13, along with students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The exams mark the end of secondary school and typically play a major role in university admissions in the U.K.
“The Earl of Wessex will be going to the Royal Agricultural University to study Rural Land & Property Management,” a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said. “He will head straight there without taking a year out.”
That means James will skip a gap year and move directly from school to university. His decision comes shortly after his older sister, Lady Louise, reached a major milestone of her own.
Louise, 22, recently graduated from the University of St. Andrews. She followed a familiar royal path by attending the Scottish university where Prince William met Kate Middleton.
James, meanwhile, appears to have developed an interest in rural life. After leaving Radley College in Oxfordshire earlier this summer, he reportedly gained practical experience at the King’s Sandringham estate. A source told The Sun that James has been helping with work on the estate. The source also said he has been driving tractors and working long hours.
His university choice will place him just a few miles from Highgrove House, King Charles’ country residence. The Royal Agricultural University is based in Cirencester and has a long association with agricultural education.
James is the youngest grandchild of the late Queen Elizabeth. He is the younger child of Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. Like his sister, James has kept a relatively low public profile. He has continued using the courtesy title Earl of Wessex rather than adopting the style of Prince James.
The royal family is now preparing for another transition as James begins university. He is also expected to spend time with his family at Balmoral Castle in the coming weeks as the royals gather at the Scottish estate.
For now, though, James has a clear next step. His university choice gives him the chance to turn his interest in rural life into a formal education and future career.
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