Earl of Wessex to Study Rural Land Management at Royal Agricultural University

James, Earl of Wessex, has secured the necessary A-level grades and will begin studying Rural Land Property Management at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester this September. Buckingham Palace confirmed on Thursday, August 13, 2026, that the 18-year-old, the son of Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, will start his degree course immediately without taking a gap year.

The announcement coincided with A-level results day for thousands of students across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. While James's specific grades and subjects from Radley College in Oxfordshire have not been disclosed, the university's entry requirement for his chosen course is a minimum of 104 UCAS points, equivalent to grades B, C, C. The degree program is designed to teach the fundamentals of rural professional practice, including planning, development, law, valuation, and estate management, with a focus on sustainability and business management.

James's choice of university carries a significant royal connection. The Royal Agricultural University, established in 1845 as the first agricultural college in the English-speaking world, is currently under the patronage of his uncle, King...