Britain's Prince William began a 10-week agricultural management course at Cambridge University today.

The course will involve 18-20 hours of lectures, seminars and meetings a week, on top of essays and field trips.

The bespoke course is from the Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership, whose patron is William's father, Prince Charles. The program is designed to educate William about rural issues ahead of his future role as head of the Duchy of Cornwall, a vast 540-square kilometer farm estate.

The intensive training will force William to cut back on some of his royal duties and spend nights away from his wife, Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge and their baby, Prince George.

Some Cambridge students have said the Prince is not clever enough to study at Cambridge, with his previous academic progress branded "mediocre" by the student newspaper.

Kensington Palace has said this is a "transitional" year for William, who left the Royal Air Force in September last year, where he trained in north Wales as a Search and Rescue helicopter pilot. He will now focus more on his royal and charitable duties.