The Earl of Wessex is bracing for some life-changing news on Thursday regarding his academic future. The youngest child of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, James, is set to hit a major milestone as he will receive his GCSE results like many others in the country.

It is understood that the 16-year-old will likely hear the news at Balmoral where he is with the rest of the royals, including his parents and his sister, the King and Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales.

James has been largely kept away from the spotlight as he focuses on his future. The royal was last seen in public back in May when he attended the Royal Windsor Horse Show at Windsor Castle.

However, on Thursday, it is unlikely that the public will learn of the earl’s results, just like it did not learn his older sister, Lady Louise Windsor’s marks four years earlier.

At the time, Buckingham Palace deemed the matter personal, however, in a rare comment, her mother, Duchess Sophie told The Times: “She’s working hard and will do A-levels. I hope she goes to university. I wouldn’t force her, but if she wants to, she can. She’s quite clever.”

Lady Louise then went on to study English, history, politics, and drama for her A-levels. But even though her marks were not made public, she is doing an English degree at St Andrews, where the standard entry requirements are AAA.

It is unknown what subjects her brother, James, who currently has no royal title, will choose for his A-levels or whether he’s set his sights on any institutions of higher education.

Royal expert Jennie Bond spoke about the royal’s future earlier this year when she told OK!: “James is currently gearing up for the first big test of his school life….his GCSEs. Like most 16-year-olds, it’s a tough time for him – although it’s unlikely that his results will be made public.

“That’s in tune with the rest of his upbringing where his parents have tried very hard to allow James as normal an upbringing as possible – given his heritage. And, by and large, they have succeeded.”