The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Edward and Sophie, attended the European Athletics Championship in Birmingham, coinciding with their son James, Earl of Wessex, receiving his A-Level results.
Sophie and Prince Edward were present on day four of the competition at the Alexander Stadium. They joined Dame Denise Lewis, President of UK Athletics, for the event.
Their son, James, who turned 18 in December, has achieved the necessary grades to attend the Royal Agricultural University. He will study Rural Land & Property Management in Cirencester starting this autumn. While the palace did not confirm his specific grades, acceptance to the course typically requires a minimum of 104 UCAS points, equivalent to BCC at A-Level. James will proceed directly to university without taking a gap year.
This summer, James worked as a farmhand on his uncle King Charles's Sandringham estate, an experience that reportedly surprised estate workers accustomed to seeing him in more formal settings. He was observed driving tractors on the Norfolk estate earlier this month. This hands-on experience aligns with his parents' desire to instill a strong work ethic and provide as normal an upbringing as possible for their children. James's older sister, Lady Louise Windsor, previously worked at a garden center before attending the University of St Andrews.
Prince Edward and Sophie, who chose not to give their children HRH titles, have stated that both James and Lady Louise can opt to use prince and princess titles upon turning 18, a choice neither has yet made. James is the 17th in line to the throne.
The Royal Agricultural University, founded in 1845, is the first agricultural college in the English-speaking world. The Rural Land & Property Management course focuses on the fundamentals of rural professional practice, including planning, law, valuation, and construction, with an emphasis on sustainability and business management for rural enterprises.
James has reportedly developed interests in outdoor pursuits, including fishing. His enthusiasm for fly fishing on the River Dee, often with his mother, has been noted as a sport also enjoyed by his late great-grandmother, the Queen Mother. He has also been described as adept at flipping burgers during family barbecues.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are frequent attendees of sporting events. They were previously seen at the Commonwealth Games with other members of the Royal Family. For the European Athletics Championship, Sophie wore a patterned dress, and Prince Edward was in a striped suit jacket.