James, Earl of Wessex, the 18-year-old son of Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, has been spending his summer working as a farmhand on the King's Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
The young royal, who is King Charles's nephew, has been seen behind the wheel of a tractor as he puts in shifts on the sprawling rural property.
With A-level results due next week, James has opted to fill his summer days with honest agricultural labour rather than idle leisure.
The role marks a refreshingly down-to-earth choice for a member of the Royal Family, currently 16th in the line of succession.
A worker on the estate described the surprise of seeing the young earl in such an unfamiliar setting.
"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," they told The Sun.
They added: "He might be the King's nephew but he is more than happy to get his hands dirty and muck in.
"Driving tractors around Sandringham is not an easy task and it can mean long hours.
"But it doesn’t matter how rich you are, learning a good work ethic at a young age can always help.
"The King is known for his fondness of the countryside and he couldn't be prouder knowing the younger royals share his love."
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The Sandringham estate encompasses some 2,700 hectares of farmland, producing crops such as wheat, rye and spelt grains, alongside a livestock operation of roughly 1,200 sheep and cattle. A further 3,400 hectares are managed by tenant farmers.
King Charles oversaw the conversion of the estate to organic farming from 2017, a reflection of his long-standing commitment to sustainable agriculture and rural stewardship.
James held the title of Viscount Severn from birth, when he stood eighth in the order of succession to the throne. His elevation to Earl of Wessex came in 2023, after his father was granted the Dukedom of Edinburgh.
A strong work ethic appears to run in the family. His elder sister, Lady Louise, 22, took a position at a garden centre before heading off to university.
Lady Louise has since completed her degree at the University of St Andrews and is presently enjoying a gap year. She was spotted at the weekend taking part in the Glebe Estate Carriage Driving Trials in West Sussex, with her boyfriend Felix da Silva-Clamp cheering her on from the sidelines.
Buckingham Palace declined to offer any comment on the young earl's summer employment.
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