Prince William is to spend 10 weeks at Cambridge University studying agricultural management in the New Year, Kensington Palace has announced.

The Palace said the course "has been designed to help provide the Duke with an understanding of contemporary issues affecting agricultural business and rural communities in the United Kingdom".

The Prince will attend lectures and seminars with other students and the news raises the intriguing prospect of the third-in-line to the throne being seen out and about in the libraries, bars and other facilities of the esteemed university.He will be staying there during the week, and heading home to London at weekends.

He will attend some 20 hours of lectures, seminars and meetings each week as part of a "bespoke" course which will help him prepare for his future role in charge of the Duchy of Cornwall.

After the Duke finishes his course he will be off on a month-long tour of Australia and New Zealand.

The move helps to explain the Prince’s decision to take a "transitional year" after quitting the army earlier this year.