Eugenie praised for A-level results

Princess Eugenie has been praised for her A-level results which appear to be the best grades posted by a senior member of the royal family.

The Queen's 18-year-old granddaughter achieved A grades in art and English literature and a B in history of art.

The Princess' parents, the Duke of York and his former wife Sarah, Duchess of York, said in a joint statement: "We are delighted by Eugenie's achievements. She has worked extremely hard towards these justifiably fantastic results."

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The Royal Family are not known for their academic prowess and excel more in sporting activities. Diana, Princess of Wales, who did not sit any A-levels, reportedly joked about her own intellect describing herself as "thick as a plank".

Only Eugenie's sister Princess Beatrice, 20, a dyslexia sufferer, has come close to her grades achieving an A in drama and B grades in history and film studies last summer.

The 18-year-old attended Marlborough College, a £23,000-a-year boarding school in Wiltshire, and it is thought she will spend the next 12 months on a gap year.

In 2000 Eugenie's cousin Prince William achieved the A-level grades needed to attend the University of St Andrews when he achieved an A for geography, B for history of art and C for biology. Prince Harry, who has joked about his lack of academic ability, gained a B in art and a D in geography.

The grades of the Queen's grandchildren Zara and Peter Phillips have never been released by Buckingham Palace. Zara, the reigning world three-day eventing champion, said in an interview she passed physical education, geography and biology, but did not get the grades needed to do physiotherapy at her chosen university and after a gap year took two courses in equestrian massage. Her brother achieved the minimum grades of B,C,C needed to study for a sports science degree at the University of Exeter.

The Prince of Wales is thought to have the best A-level grades of the older senior royals, achieving a B in history and a C in French. The Duke of York passed three A-levels in history, English, and economics and political science but only the result for the last subject is known - reportedly an E grade.

The Earl of Wessex is said to have got a C for English literature, and D grades for history and economics and political science, while the Princess Royal achieved a D in history and E in geography.