Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, is to become a full-time student of agricultural management at Cambridge University from next week.
Prince William, who left the RAF in the autumn, will learn about issues facing the UK's rural communities and farming industry during the 10-week bespoke course.
The studies are expected to give him a foundation for when he takes over the Duchy of Cornwall from his father Prince Charles when Charles becomes King.
It is thought the duke will live in Cambridge for part of the time.
A Kensington Palace spokesman said the prince was "very much looking forward" to the course, which runs until mid-March.
William to take Cambridge University agriculture course
The duke will learn about the challenges facing the UK's rural communities
The Duke of Cambridge is to become a full-time student of agricultural management at Cambridge University from next week, Kensington Palace says.
Prince William will learn about issues facing the UK's rural communities and farming industry during the 10-week bespoke course.
The studies are expected to give him a foundation for when he takes over the Duchy of Cornwall from Prince Charles.
When Charles becomes King, his son William will take over the Duchy of Cornwall and inherit his father's title of Duke of Cornwall
It is thought the duke will live in Cambridge for part of the time.
A Kensington Palace spokesman said the prince was "very much looking forward" to the course, which runs until mid-March.
The course is run by the Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership (CPSL), an institution within Cambridge University's School of Technology, which has William's father, Prince Charles, as its patron.
The palace spokesman said: "The executive education programme of seminars, lectures and meetings will draw on the strengths of academics across the university.
"The course has been designed to help provide the duke with an understanding of contemporary issues affecting agricultural business and rural communities in the UK."
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and most likely their baby son Prince George, are set to visit New Zealand and Australia in April
Cambridge was ranked the 7th best university in the world in 2013
The Duchy of Cornwall is a portfolio of land, property and investments which the prince will inherit from his father when Charles becomes king.
Prince William, who is second-in-line to the throne, will have 18 to 20 hours of lectures, seminars and meetings a week, as well as essays to complete and field trips to attend.
The cost of the course is being met privately.
The duke graduated from the University of St Andrews in 2005 with a class 2:1 degree in geography, and it was as an undergraduate that he met his future wife Kate Middleton.
He then spent more than seven years in the military, most recently working as an RAF search and rescue pilot based in Anglesey, north Wales.
Over the next year he is expected to focus on royal duties and charity work with his wife, now the Duchess of Cambridge - as well as his studies.
In April, the couple are set to visit New Zealand and Australia, most likely accompanied by their baby son, Prince George.
DUCHY OF CORNWALL
The Duchy of Cornwall is one of two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Lancaster. The eldest son of the reigning British monarch inherits the duchy and title of Duke of Cornwall at the time of his birth, or of his parent's succession to the throne. If the monarch has no son, the estates of the duchy are held by the crown, and there is no duke. The current duke is Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales.
The principal activity of the duchy is the management of its land and properties. The duchy has a financial investment portfolio and owns land totalling 208.9 sq. mi. Nearly half of the holdings are in Devon, with other large holdings in Cornwall, Herefordshire, Somerset and Wales. For the fiscal year 2011, the duchy was valued at £728 million, and annual profit in 2011 was £18.3 million, thus yielding 2.8%. The duchy also exercises certain legal rights and privileges across Cornwall, including some that elsewhere in England belong to the crown.
BBC News - William to take Cambridge University agriculture course
Prince William, who left the RAF in the autumn, will learn about issues facing the UK's rural communities and farming industry during the 10-week bespoke course.
The studies are expected to give him a foundation for when he takes over the Duchy of Cornwall from his father Prince Charles when Charles becomes King.
It is thought the duke will live in Cambridge for part of the time.
A Kensington Palace spokesman said the prince was "very much looking forward" to the course, which runs until mid-March.
William to take Cambridge University agriculture course
The duke will learn about the challenges facing the UK's rural communities
The Duke of Cambridge is to become a full-time student of agricultural management at Cambridge University from next week, Kensington Palace says.
Prince William will learn about issues facing the UK's rural communities and farming industry during the 10-week bespoke course.
The studies are expected to give him a foundation for when he takes over the Duchy of Cornwall from Prince Charles.
When Charles becomes King, his son William will take over the Duchy of Cornwall and inherit his father's title of Duke of Cornwall
It is thought the duke will live in Cambridge for part of the time.
A Kensington Palace spokesman said the prince was "very much looking forward" to the course, which runs until mid-March.
The course is run by the Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership (CPSL), an institution within Cambridge University's School of Technology, which has William's father, Prince Charles, as its patron.
The palace spokesman said: "The executive education programme of seminars, lectures and meetings will draw on the strengths of academics across the university.
"The course has been designed to help provide the duke with an understanding of contemporary issues affecting agricultural business and rural communities in the UK."
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and most likely their baby son Prince George, are set to visit New Zealand and Australia in April
Cambridge was ranked the 7th best university in the world in 2013
The Duchy of Cornwall is a portfolio of land, property and investments which the prince will inherit from his father when Charles becomes king.
Prince William, who is second-in-line to the throne, will have 18 to 20 hours of lectures, seminars and meetings a week, as well as essays to complete and field trips to attend.
The cost of the course is being met privately.
The duke graduated from the University of St Andrews in 2005 with a class 2:1 degree in geography, and it was as an undergraduate that he met his future wife Kate Middleton.
He then spent more than seven years in the military, most recently working as an RAF search and rescue pilot based in Anglesey, north Wales.
Over the next year he is expected to focus on royal duties and charity work with his wife, now the Duchess of Cambridge - as well as his studies.
In April, the couple are set to visit New Zealand and Australia, most likely accompanied by their baby son, Prince George.
DUCHY OF CORNWALL
The Duchy of Cornwall is one of two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Lancaster. The eldest son of the reigning British monarch inherits the duchy and title of Duke of Cornwall at the time of his birth, or of his parent's succession to the throne. If the monarch has no son, the estates of the duchy are held by the crown, and there is no duke. The current duke is Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales.
The principal activity of the duchy is the management of its land and properties. The duchy has a financial investment portfolio and owns land totalling 208.9 sq. mi. Nearly half of the holdings are in Devon, with other large holdings in Cornwall, Herefordshire, Somerset and Wales. For the fiscal year 2011, the duchy was valued at £728 million, and annual profit in 2011 was £18.3 million, thus yielding 2.8%. The duchy also exercises certain legal rights and privileges across Cornwall, including some that elsewhere in England belong to the crown.
BBC News - William to take Cambridge University agriculture course
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