Princess Anne Reveals Why She Decided To ‘Skip’ College in Favor of ‘What Made More Sense’ To Her
Anne, Princess Royal is opening up about why she didn’t attend college. The only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Anne’s always done things her way and schooling’s no different.
Going to college isn’t a requirement for royals
Not every member of the British royal family attends college or university as it’s called across the pond. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex joined the military after graduating from Eton College.
Despite the name, Eton isn’t a four-year college but a boarding school for teenage boys. In doing so, Harry joined the ranks of other royals such as Prince Andrew, Duke of York, who skipped college and headed straight for military careers.
Meanwhile, Harry’s older brother, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge went to college. He attended the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. It’s where the 38-year-old met his future wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.
William and Catherine aren’t the only royals with college degrees. Princess Beatrice of York and her younger sister, Princess Eugenie of York both graduated from college as did Anne’s daughter, Zara Tindall, and Harry’s wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
Princess Anne opted out of college for the chance to travel with Queen Elizabeth II
In the documentary, Anne: The Princess Royal at 70, the world-renowned equestrian and hardworking royal reflected on her life, including her education. She explained why she didn’t attend college.
“So many of my contemporaries, when asked why they were going to university, would say, ‘Well basically, because that’s what you do,’” she said in the documentary, according to Express.
Anne didn’t want to go to college simply because so she decided to do something else.
“And I remember thinking really that doesn’t sound like a very good reason to go university, so I thought I would skip that,” she said.
What did the Princess Royal think she’d do with her time instead of going off to college? Travel with her mother.
“But I also thought that I might have the opportunity to travel with Her Majesty on her tours,” Anne said. “I did Geography A-level so, for me, it made more sense.”
Anne did get to travel with the queen but she didn’t escape the world of academia altogether.
Princess Anne has 3 honorary college degrees
Even though Anne didn’t attend college she has a number of honorary degrees. According to Express, both the University of Regina and the Memorial University of Newfoundland awarded her an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. She also has an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Cranfield University.
Not only does Anne have honorary degrees but she’s the chancellor of multiple universities.
