Royal Qualifications

The Daily Telegraph recently uncovered the acaedemic qualifications of the British monarchy (October 16, 2006). It was triggered by Princess Michael of Kent, a cousin to the Queen, who boasted in an interview of her siblings' academic achievements in over other royal family members:

"They (My children) are good-looking, they come from a good family and they have good degrees from top universities. They are more educated than their cousins. No children in the Royal Family have got as good degrees as they've got."

Apparently, such comments would not make Princess Michael of Kent ver popular, as "it is most unroyal to be highly educated and most unroyal for one's mother to brag about it," says the royal biographer, Robert Lacey.

Well, compared with the peers, Princess Michael of Kent has every reason to be proud of her children. See for yourself the summary list of the Royal Family members' qualifications:

1)The Queen:
Educated: by governess, Marion Crawford, and later by the vice provost of Eton.
Qualifications: none.

2) Prince Philip:
Eduacted:Gordonstoun, Headboy.
Qualifications: none.

3) Prince Charles:
Educated: Gordonstoun, Headboy.
Qualifications: 5 O-levels, 2 A-levels (History B, French C), 2:2 degree in History, Cambridge.

4) The Princess Royal (Princess Anne):
Educated: Benenden.
Qualifications: 6 O-levels, 3 A-Levels (English, History and Politics).

5) Prince Andrew:
Educated: Gordonstoun.
Qualifications: 6 O-levels, 3 A-levels (English, History and Politics).

6) Prince Edward:
Educated: Gordonstoun, Headboy.
Qualifications: 9 O-levels, 3 A-levels (English C, History D, Politics D), 2:2 degree in History, Cambridge.

7) Prince William:
Educated: Eton.
Qualifications: 12 GCSEs, 3 A-levels (Geography A, History of Art A, Biology C), 2:1 degree in Geography, St. Andrews.

8) Prince Harry:
Educated: Eton.
Qualifications: 11 GCSEs, 2 A-levels (Art B, Geography D).

9) Princess Beatrice:
Educated: St George's, Ascot.
Qualifications: 9 GCSEs (History A*, Drama A*, French A, Art A, and 5 Bs)

10) Peter Phillips
Educated: Gordonstoun, Headboy.
Qualifications: 2 A-levels, degree in Sport Science from Exeter.

11) Zara Phillips:
Educated: Gordonstoun.
Qualifications: 3 A-levels (Geography, Biology, PE)

12) Frederick Windsor (son of Princess Michael of Kent)
Educated: Eton, King's Scholar.
Qualifications: 2:1 degree in Classics, Oxford.

13) Gabriella Windsor (daughter of Princess Michael of Kent)
Educated: not disclosed.
Qualifications: degree in Comparative Literature, Brown University, USA.

Given such flying colours from the kids, how can you stop a proud mother from bragging about, "My children are smarter than the average royal" then?