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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Zoe Forsey & Jennifer Newton

Royal A-level results - what Kate Middleton, Harry and William got and who failed exams

Teenagers up and down the country have been heading into their schools or colleges for one final time to pick up their A-level results today - and among them is one member of the Royal Family.

The Queen's granddaughter Lady Louise Windsor has been studying for her A-levels over the past academic year and will now have a big decision to make over the future once she finds out her results. In previous years, her royal relatives including Prince William, Prince Harry and the Duchess of Cambridge have all experienced results day nerves as they picked up their grades.

And it seems that the royals have a real variety of A-levels between them in various subjects with varying grades too, while some members of the Firm didn't have time for formal schooling and don't have any formal qualifications to their names.

Here's how they all got on...

Prince William

Prince William on his first day at Eton College (Universal Pictorial Press)
William left Eton with three A-Levels (Tim Graham/Getty Images)

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William started at the prestigious Eton College in 1995 and when he picked up his A-level results five years later in 2000, the piece of paper showed a mixed range of grades. He got an A in geography, a B in art and a C in biology.

These grades earned him a place to study a History of Art degree at St Andrews University in Scotland, but he later swapped courses and changed to Geography.

But before heading to uni, William took a gap year, spending time in travelling to Chile, Kenya, Tanzania and Botswana.

His uni days proved to be pivotal as they are when he met his future wife Kate and romance blossomed. He left St Andrews with a 2:1 degree.

Prince Harry

Harry attended Eton - a prestigious school near Windsor - until 2003 (Tim Graham Photo Library via Get)
Prince Harry finishing his Eton school days back in 2003 (Getty Images Europe)

It's fair to say that Charles and Diana's younger son Harry wasn't quite as academic as his big brother, excelling in other areas during his time at Eton.

He left the top school with slightly worse grades - a B in Art and D in Geography in his A-levels.

On the royal's website it simply says: "His Royal Highness went on to Eton College from September 1998 where he took his GCSEs and A-levels."

However during his time at school Harry was House Captain of Games, represented the school at rugby, cricket and polo, and was a member of the Combined Cadet Force.

After finishing his A-levels in 2003 Harry also took a gap year, travelling to Australia, Africa and Argentina. He decided against university and instead joined the Army, where he embarked on a successful career.

Kate Middleton

Kate (centre) with her school hockey team (Getty Images)

William and Kate are known for their competitive streaks - and Kate beat William in their A-levels, taking home better grades than him on results day.

She attended Marlborough College in Wiltshire for her A-levels and her hard work meant she got As in Maths and Art, and a B in English,

The impressive grades earned her a place at St Andrew's University in Scotland - where she would meet her future husband.

Like William, Kate took a gap year before starting anniversary and the pair actually did a very similar trip but their dates didn't overlap. Kate graduated from St Andrews in 2005 with a 2:1 in History of Art.

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie

Beatrice on her graduation day with proud parents Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson (AFP)
Princess Eugenie as she graduated from Newcastle in 2012 (NCJ Archive)

Princess Eugenie is probably the smartest royal (in terms of grades. Her two As in Art and English Literature and B in History of Art, beat older sister Princess Beatrice, who received an A in Drama and Bs in History and Film Studies.

Beatrice went on to get a 2:1 from Goldsmith's in History of Ideas. Eugenie studied English Literature, History of Art and Politics at Newcastle and graduated at the end of her three-year course in 2012 with a 2:1.

Prince Charles

Prince Charles had a very different education to his sons as his dad Prince Philip was determined to send him to Gordonstoun, an extremely strict private school in Scotland that combines learning with the outdoors.

He left with five O-levels (GCSEs) and two A-levels - a B in History and a C in French. He then went on to Cambridge University where he achieved a 2:2 degree in History.

Legend has it his bodyguard who was present at all lectures with the young prince sat the exams too - and got a First.

Meghan Markle

As well as learning, Meghan used her school days to campaign against things she was passionate about - including a sexist TV ad (Youtube)

As she was educated in America, Meghan Markle didn't follow the same exam system the rest of the royal family.

She began her secondary education at Immaculate Heart High School in 1992 where she was known as a hard working and focused student.

America does not test students using GCSEs or A-levels, and it has not been reported what Meghan got on her SATs (which is the test students take as an entry into university) but it is known that she got the grades she needed to get into university.

She went on gain a double major in Theatre and International Relations at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois in 2003.

During her time at university, she completed an internship at the US Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she learned to speak Spanish. She also studied French for six years.

Princess Diana

Princess Diana didn't do quite as well at school and failed all her O-levels twice.

However she apparently excelled in deportment, having attended finishing school in Switzerland.

The Queen

The Queen didn't have a formal education (Getty Images)
However she was already in training to become Queen (Getty)

She's met world leaders and film stars, speaks French fluently and knows more about the running of Government than most politicians.

But the Queen has never sat an academic exam in her life, meaning she hasn't a single GCSE (O Levels back then) or A-level to her name.

In her early childhood, the Queen was taught by a governess from 9.30am until 11am.

Following the abdication of her uncle Edward VIII in 1938, Elizabeth needed to prepare herself for her future role and received lessons on constitutional history from the vice provost of Eton, Henry Marten.

"The Queen’s father had disliked school and her mother thought it was more important to have fun,’ Professor Kate Williams, author of Young Elizabeth told Good Housekeeping.

"Unlike her father, the Queen was and is very bright and had an appetite for learning as well as a razor sharp memory.

"The lack of a formal education didn't harm her as she's naturally analytical and something of an autodidact, as well as being hard working - which we know now is just as important as raw brainpower."

Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward

Princess Anne attended Benenden school in Kent where she gained six O-levels, and three A-levels in English, History and Politics.

While Prince Andrew attended Gordonstoun like his older brother, his academic choices were much like Anne's - six O-levels and A-levels in English, History and Politics.

Prince Edward also went to Gordonstoun and has nine O-levels and three A-levels in English, History and Politics. He then gained a 2:2 degree in History from Cambridge University.

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