Meghan Markle has been named the "most intelligent member of the British royal family," according to a new study released by Oxford Royal.

The education company looked at each family member's educational background using quantifiable factors such as high school grades and where they attended college. The latter was evaluated using the QS World University Rankings, which rank universities based on academic reputation and faculty-to-student ratios.

Markle graduated from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, which was ranked 30th out of 1,300 universities in the latest QS World Rankings. She graduated in 2003 with a double degree in theater and international relations.

"Life as royalty is not always an easy job and involves living in the public eye and under a lot of scrutiny, but Meghan Markle's academic strengths made her perfect for the role," a spokesperson for Oxford Royal told the Daily Express.

"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex may have resigned from their roles as active royalty, but they have captured the attention and interest of the world, and Meghan's desire to use her platform to raise awareness of serious global issues is a reflection of her intelligence, analytical mind, and educational pedigree that . reflects this."

Following Meghan Markle in second place was Kate Middleton and Prince William in third. Both the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the University of St. Andrews in Scotland (ranked 92nd in the QS world rankings), but Kate was ranked higher than her husband because she outperformed him in her A-level exams.

Will's cousin, Princess Eugenie, was ranked fourth. She graduated from Newcastle University (134th) in 2012 with degrees in English literature and art history. Rounding out the top five is Princess Anne's son, Peter Phillips, who studied sports science at the University of Exeter (149th).

Notable on the Oxford Royal list is Prince Harry, who was excluded solely because he did not graduate from college. However, he attended some of the most prestigious independent schools in the U.K., including Eton College, so his education would not be in question.

For a full list of the most intelligent royals, see:

1. Meghan Markle, Northwestern University

2. Kate Middleton, University of St. Andrews

3. Prince William, University of St. Andrews

4. Princess Eugenie, University of Newcastle

5. Peter Phillips, University of Exeter

6. Zara Tindall, University of Exeter

7. Princess Anne, University of Aberdeen

8. Lady Kitty Spencer, University of Cape Town, European Business School

9. Camilla Parker Bowles, SOAS, University of London

10. Princess Beatrice, Goldsmiths, University of London [37