Eton Bound: Prince George Confirmed to Follow Prince William’s Academic Footsteps This Autumn 🎓
The long-running saga over where the future King will continue his education has officially been settled. Kensington Palace has released a brief statement confirming that Prince George will enroll at the prestigious Eton College this coming September.
The announcement, which validates years of exclusive reporting by The Daily Mail, confirms that the £63,000-a-year elite boarding school has always remained the “number one choice” for the Prince and Princess of Wales.
A Strategic Move for the Wales Family 🏰
One of the most significant advantages of the historic school is its geographical location. Eton sits just a stone’s throw away from Windsor Castle and Forest Lodge—the Berkshire estate that William and Kate have established as their long-term family home.
While the couple actively scouted several high-profile co-educational alternative institutions across the country in recent years, sources confirm their minds were firmly made up earlier this month after the 12-year-old prince successfully completed his Common Entrance Exams.
George, who celebrates his 13th birthday on July 22, will officially transition to senior school in the autumn. He has spent the last few terms preparing for the shift by acting as an occasional boarder at his current school, Lambrook. Meanwhile, his younger siblings, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, 8, will remain at the co-educational Berkshire prep school, where they are reportedly incredibly settled and happy.
Breaking the Royal Mold: From Gordonstoun to Eton 🏫
When Prince William and later Prince Harry were enrolled at Eton, it marked a dramatic departure from modern royal tradition. Previously, King Charles III and the late Duke of Edinburgh were famously sent to the unforgiving, austere environment of Gordonstoun in Scotland.
While Prince Philip flourished under the rigorous regime, King Charles faced merciless bullying, later famously describing the remote Scottish institution as “Colditz in kilts.”
Hoping to spare her sons a similar fate, Princess Diana fiercely advocated for Eton, favoring its proximity to the rest of the family. The gamble paid off spectacularly for Prince William. He thrived academically and socially, eventually becoming a prefect and earning a spot in the school’s elite “Pop” club—a status symbol that granted him the privilege of wearing an intricately patterned waistcoat alongside his traditional black tailcoat and stiff-collared shirt.
William also utilized the school’s elite sports facilities and formed a tight-knit circle of friends that remains intact today. Furthermore, he regularly walked across the River Thames to enjoy afternoon lunches with his beloved grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, at Windsor Castle.
A Tale of Two Brothers: The Contrast with Prince Harry 📖
While Eton provided a golden era for Prince William, the school holds far darker memories for George’s estranged uncle, Prince Harry.
In his explosive memoir, Spare, the Duke of Sussex detailed his immense struggles to fit into the rigid structure of the institution, claiming he felt heavily singled out due to his royal heritage. Harry also alleged that his older brother was deeply unwelcoming on campus, ordering him to act as if they didn’t know each other. The psychological strain ultimately led Harry to turn to illicit substances, admitting to smoking cannabis during his tenure as a student.
Life Inside the Modern Fortress of Eton 🏛️
Despite its 600-year history, Eton describes itself online as a “modern, forward-thinking school that embraces innovation to provide an outstanding, progressive and well-rounded education.” It consistently ranks among the top ten boarding schools in the United Kingdom.
George, who was first given a formal tour of the grounds in 2023, faces a structured yet supportive boarding environment. The college strictly offers termly boarding, though pupils are permitted to return home every two or three weeks during “short leaves” or school holidays, alongside Sunday afternoon visits with parents.
From day one, every boy is allocated their own private room within localized boarding houses of roughly 55 students, overseen by a dedicated domestic team led by a House Master and a Dame.
