The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have stepped out at the European Athletics Championship in Birmingham today - after their son, James, Earl of Wessex, discovered his A-Level results.

Sophie, 61, and Prince Edward, 62, appeared relaxed as they joined former heptathlon athlete Dame Denise Lewis, President of UK Athletics, on day four of the sports competition, held at the Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr.

It's no wonder the couple looked at ease during the royal engagement, following the news that their son, the King's nephew, had achieved the grades he needed to study at the Royal Agricultural University.

James will study Rural Land & Property Management at the university in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, starting this autumn.

The Palace would not confirm what grades he achieved but to be accepted onto the course students need to achieve a minimum of 104 UCAS points - or the equivalent of BCC at A Level.

The 17th in line to the throne, who has been dubbed 'Britain's most eligible bachelor' since he turned 18 in December, will head straight to university without taking a year out.

He was among hundreds of thousands of teenagers getting their results today, with record numbers being accepted into university. 

James has developed an enthusiasm for outdoor pursuits, and over the summer, he swapped royal engagements for working as a farmhand on his uncle King Charles's Sandringham estate.

The 18-year-old, who completed his A Levels at Radley College in Oxfordshire, was spotted behind the wheel of a tractor on the Norfolk estate earlier this month. 

For today's outing, Sophie opted for a chic patterned number, complete with an elegant V-neck design and shirt collar, in shades of white, blue and green.

She finished off her sophisticated look with a pair of stylish sunglasses and a dainty necklace and matching gold earrings, while keeping her hair straight. 

Prince Edward, Queen Elizabeth II's youngest son, looked equally smart in a striped blue and brown suit jacket, teamed with a light blue shirt.

The pair regularly enjoy attending sporting events, and were recently pictured at the Commonwealth Games alongside the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children, Princes George and Louis, and Princess Charlotte.

Meanwhile, away from his studies, James – previously dubbed the 'hidden royal' – has largely kept out of the spotlight compared to his sister, Lady Louise Windsor, and other members of the Royal Family. 

Speaking of James's time on the Sandringham estate this summer, one employee said they were surprised to see the 18-year-old getting his hands dirty, having become accustomed to seeing him dressed smartly alongside his family at royal events.

They noted: '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 despite being the King's nephew, James was 'more than happy to get his hands dirty and muck in' while working long hours driving tractors.

His reported summer job appears to reflect the approach taken by his parents, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, who have always wanted their children to have as normal an upbringing as possible, particularly by instilling a strong work ethic.

James's older sister, Lady Louise Windsor, 22, previously worked at a garden centre before heading to the University of St Andrews, giving her a taste of working life before furthering her studies. 

Sophie has also previously spoken about preparing both of her children for the possibility of having to work for a living. 

When James and Louise were born, their parents chose not to give them the HRH titles they were entitled to, instead allowing them to be styled as the children of Earl.

With that, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh later made clear that both children could choose their prince and princess titles when they turned 18 – a choice neither of them have made so far.

The Royal Agricultural University where James will study was established in 1845 and was the first agricultural college in the English-speaking world.

The Earl's degree course is described on the university's website as teaching '…the fundamentals of rural professional practice as well as planning and development, law, valuation, building construction and management.

'You will develop an essential understanding of sustainability and wider business management to enable you to provide effective advice about farm, estate and other rural businesses while gaining an overall understanding of the multi-functionality of rural practice.'

James has reportedly developed a particular interest in fishing and outdoor pursuits – and his enthusiasm for salmon fishing was said to have impressed gamekeepers on his late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II's Scottish estate.

A source previously told The Sun that James would spend as much time as possible fishing in the River Dee, often alongside his mother Sophie, who is also a keen angler.

The source continued: '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, who is a keen fisherwoman herself, liked to stand with him. The Balmoral ghillies [gamekeepers] were impressed with both of them.'

The young royal has also reportedly shown a willingness to get involved in family activities – having previously been described as being particularly good at flipping burgers during barbecues at Balmoral.

Last year, writing in his Palace Confidential newsletter, the Daily Mail's Diary Editor Richard Eden expressed how the growing contribution from Edward and Sophie's children could be of great value to the Royal Family.

He wrote: 'When Prince William becomes King, I hope that he will follow the example of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, and ask his cousins, including Lady Louise and James, to share royal duties with him.

'Hopefully, William will realise that a 'slimmed-down' monarchy wouldn't safeguard the institution, as some claim, but would lead to its irrelevance and eventual death.

'What better way to build on its strengths than with an injection of energy from young people who have had values of public service and duty instilled in them from birth?'