Growing up in Cirencester, students from the Agricultural College, where King Charles’ nephew, James, Earl of Wessex, is soon to begin studying, were akin to mythical creatures.
We’d see them in the pub, decked out in well-worn Jack Wills and Ralph Lauren (it was the early 00s, don’t judge), with hair that looked like it’d been dragged through a hedge backwards and impeccable manners even when completely drunk.
Upon sighting, my friends and I would whisper to one another, “That’s a student from the Ag college.” Sometimes we called them ‘aggys’. An affectionate term, rather than being related to them being aggravated or agitated.
These beautifully dishevelled beings spent most of their time at the Agricultural College’s sprawling campus, set just outside of Cirencester, but on occasion could be spotted in the town centre, including at the one club in the town, which famously has a cage on the dance floor.
Having grown up in Cirencester, attending college in the town (the A-level college, rather than the agricultural one), I have a good idea of what King Charles’ nephew will be getting up to during his downtime…
Life in the slow lane for Prince Edward’s son
In general, Cirencester is a fairly sleepy town. There’s only so much trouble a young royal can get into there.
While there are plenty of shops, pubs and restaurants (my favourites are Burrito Mama, an authentic Mexican place that offers an exceptionally good margarita menu, and the Thai Emerald for, you guessed it, Thai), it’s not a party hub like you might expect from a university town.
Cheltenham is nearby for livelier nightlife, but Cirencester itself is more of a coffee and brunch place than a hotspot for student pub crawls. Coffee from Lynwood is my favourite, if you’re after an iced latte.
The Cotswold pub Prince William visited
When he’s in the market for a swift half after lectures, I suspect James will be a regular at The Tunnel House Inn. Something of an institution for students at the agricultural college, the pub, which is in the village of Coates, about 15 minutes out of Cirencester, is the perfect place to unwind after lectures.
Given that it’s in the middle of nowhere, someone always needs to be the designated driver – but perhaps James will have his own driver, meaning he and his new pals can be chauffeured to the country pub.
Fun fact – Prince William and Prince Harry were patrons of the pub in their younger years. It’s only a 15-minute drive from King Charles’ Highgrove Estate in Tetbury, so perhaps His Majesty will meet up with his nephew there?
Set in miles and miles of land, owned by Lord Bathhurst, The Tunnel House lends itself to long walks before settling in for a drink in the gardens, or by the fire come winter. I’ll be keeping an eye out for him while I call in.
Outdoor pursuits loved by the Tindalls
Whether James loves walks or water sports, he’s well catered to in the area surrounding his university. The Cotswold Water Park offers sup boarding and kayaking, as well as wakeboarding and sup yoga – plenty to keep a young royal busy.
I suspect he’ll bring his bike to university and there are endless cycle routes to tackle, including the area’s infamous ‘quiet lanes’, created to allow cyclists to ride their bikes freely without fear of cars whizzing by.
© MEDIA-MODE.COMCirencester is also famed for polo, so if James wants to meet up with his cousin, Zara Tindall, she’s frequently atop her horse in the park. Zara is often joined by her mother, Princess Anne, so James won’t find himself missing his family during his time in Cirencester.
A different direction
James’ choice of a vocational degree is quite different to his royal relations – but it’s perfectly suited to the rural location of his university.
His sister, Lady Louise Windsor, studied English and international relations at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, while James’ cousin, Prince William, chose the same institution, but graduated in geography.
His other cousins, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, opted for art history at Goldsmiths in London and English literature, history of art and politics in Newcastle, respectively.
The closest degree taken by a fellow royal is Zara Tindall’s degree in equine physiotherapy from Exeter– equally outdoorsy as James’ Rural Land and Property Management degree, which sets him up nicely for a job in that field, rather than the all-rounder degrees undertaken by the other royals.
While James might not have the university experience offered by St. Andrews and Exeter, he’s certainly in the right place to immerse himself in rural land, and I have a feeling he’ll fit right into the laid-back, countryside way of life in the town.
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