Carole’s son James has reflected on his testing time at school which left his mother distraught and his father lamenting the cost.

Carole was ‘reduced to tears’ over James’ exams (Image: Getty)

Carole Middleton was left “reduced to tears” as she became concerned about her son’s education, according to a new biography.

The concern came about as Carole and her husband Michael discussed whether their son James’s £32,000-a-year education was worth the sizeable fee they were paying.

James, who is Princess Kate’s younger brother, has told of how he had to retake an A-level chemistry course four times. He studied at the prestigious Marlborough College in Wiltshire, the same school his sisters Kate and Pippa went to.

In his memoir titled ‘Meet Ella’, James recalled how his mum was left distraught after his father said the private education was a “waste of money.”

He wrote: “Meanwhile, I do so badly in my final school exams that my poor mum is reduced to tears. Dad says my expensive education has been ‘a waste of money’.

Michael, James’ father, said the private education was a ‘waste of time’ (Image: Getty)

“After a year of resitting my A-levels, I scrape into Edinburgh University with the minimum permitted grades.” Speaking to The Times, James added: “Mum and Dad just wanted the best for me.”

The outlet added: “Today Middleton studiously avoids criticising his school or his beloved parents — he learnt valuable survival skills at Marlborough, he tells me.”

James says he sought happiness from his interest in nature and dogs as the pressure of school took its toll. He continued: “I was an outcast … alienated from my classmates. But dogs never judged me.

“Mum asked repeatedly if I wanted to bring friends home to stay at weekends. But truthfully all I wanted to do was to see Tilly.”

James had to retake his chemistry course four times (Image: Getty)

James eventually went to Edinburgh University to study Criminology, Environmental studies, and Geography modules.

He joked that he chose these because he was “pretty certain they would all be multiple choice”.

He then went on to fail his first-year exams. Reflecting on this, the Times added: “More crying from Mum, more exasperation from Dad, more solace from a dog, this time his own.”