All the British Royals Who Hit the Books and Got a College Degree

In 1967, Prince Charles made history when he entered Trinity College, Cambridge. He studied history, archaeology, and anthropology and graduated with a 2:2 (lower second-class honors) degree in 1970. This was the first time in history that a British monarch or heir to the throne had achieved a college degree. He also has a master's degree, but as an academic rank by virtue of seniority (this is the practice at Oxford, Cambridge, and Dublin), not as a mark of further study.

The queen's youngest son, Prince Edward, attended Jesus College, Cambridge, graduating in 1986 with lower second-class honors for his history degree. His admission to Cambridge caused some controversy, since his A-levels (high school level standardized tests) were significantly below the usual threshold of entry to the elite university.

Prince William followed his father's lead and became the second direct heir to get a college degree. After a gap year, he attended The University of St. Andrews in Fife, Scotland; he graduated in 2005 with a 2:1 degree in geography. While at St. Andrews, he tried to live as normal a college life as possible, even living alongside other students — including his future wife, Kate Middleton.

Middleton studied art history at the University of St. Andrews and graduated with upper second-class honors, making her the first royal bride — and, eventually, the first queen consort — to have a university degree.

Both of Prince Andrew's daughters have been successful academically, preparing them for lives outside the main royal line. Princess Beatrice graduated from Goldsmiths College in 2011 with a 2:1 (upper second-class honors) degree in history and history of ideas and has since gone on to do consulting work and philanthropy.

Princess Eugenie studied English and art history at Newcastle University and graduated in 2012 with a 2:1 degree. Those degrees have been put to good use as she's embarked on a career as the director of an art gallery.

Although his mother did not go to college, Peter Phillips went on to earn a degree in sports science from the University of Exeter, which led into a career in sports management.

Like her brother, Zara Tindall studied at the University of Exeter, where she gained her qualifications to work as a physiotherapist. Tindall's career focus, though, remained her equestrian career, leading her to a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics.

Long before she married into the royal family, Markle was just an ordinary American college student. She received two bachelor's degrees from Northwestern University, double majoring in theater and international studies. During her time in college, she joined a sorority and did volunteer work along with an internship at the American embassy in Buenos Aires and a study abroad semester in Madrid.