Prince George Set for Prestigious Eton College: A Royal Tradition Continues
This year marks a significant milestone for Prince George as he prepares to transition from primary to secondary education. The future king’s school choice has been a subject of considerable public interest, with speculation rife about whether he would follow in the esteemed footsteps of his father, Prince William, and uncle, Prince Harry, at Eton College, or forge a different educational path.
The decision-making process appeared complex, with the Prince and Princess of Wales reportedly touring a variety of prospective institutions across the country. These visits included Marlborough College in Wiltshire, alma mater to the Princess of Wales, and, naturally, a tour of Eton itself. Reports also surfaced of visits to St Edward’s School in Oxford, affectionately known as “Teddies,” and Oundle School in Northamptonshire. Interestingly, a local resident later suggested to Marie Claire that the Oundle visit might have been more in consideration for Princess Charlotte, rather than Prince George.
It’s a big year for
Prince George
, who, in a matter of months, will make the transition from primary to secondary education.
Over the past couple of years,
the future king’s choice
of
school
has been of huge interest to the public.
The main question being, will he follow in the Eton footsteps of his father, Prince William, and uncle,
Prince Harry
? Or, will he carve his own path somewhere else?
This decision was made all the more uncertain when George’s parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, began visiting a string of prospective places across the country.
From
Wiltshire
’s Marlborough College, where Kate attended, to, of course, touring Eton, the couple were also spotted visiting other schools.
This includes a reported visit to St Edward’s School in Oxford, known as Teddies, and
a trip to Oundle School in Northamptonshire.
However, an Oundle resident later told Marie Claire that it ‘was actually
[Princess] Charlotte
that they are looking to enrol’ at the latter.
Eton Confirmed: A £63,000-a-Year Education Awaits
The prolonged period of anticipation appears to be drawing to a close, with strong indications that the £63,000-a-year Eton College has been selected for Prince George’s secondary education. Royal broadcaster Richard Eden reported in the Daily Mail that an announcement was imminent, confirming George’s enrolment at Eton in September. Eden further revealed that the young prince had successfully completed and passed the common entrance examination for the prestigious institution.
Several factors reportedly influenced the final decision. According to Eden, Eton’s status as an all-boys school played a crucial role, setting it apart from the mixed-gender institutions that were also considered. A source confided in the Mail, highlighting the realities of the modern age: “We’re in the smartphone era. Any picture of George with a girl could be around the world in a moment, however innocent the kiss might be.”
Beyond the school’s gender composition, security considerations and geographical proximity to the family’s residence were also cited as significant influencing factors. Eton College is conveniently located a mere 12-minute drive from the Wales’ family home, Forest Lodge in Windsor. This Windsor estate is designated as the family’s “forever home,” where they currently reside with George, aged 12, Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, eight, and is expected to remain their primary residence even when Prince William ascends to the throne.
But the wait is seemingly over, as it’s all but confirmed that the £63,000-a-year Eton is the chosen school for George.
Royal broadcaster Richard Eden stated in the
Daily Mail
that he was told ‘it’s going to be announced next week that George will start at Eton in September.’
Eden also revealed that the young prince had sat the common entrance exam for Eton and passed.
According to Eden, the final verdict was down to Eton being an all-boys school — the others were mixed.
A source told the Mail: ‘We’re in the
smartphone
era. Any picture of George with a girl could be around the world in a moment, however innocent the kiss might be.’
Plus, they added that ‘security and proximity to home’ were two other swaying factors.
Eton is just a 12-minute drive from the Wales’ Forest Lodge in Windsor. The family’s ‘forever home,’ where they live with George, 12, Charlotte, 11, and
Prince Louis,
eight, is where they’ll stay even when William becomes king.
A Traditional Choice Amidst Modernisation Efforts
Despite the prevailing royal tradition of sending sons to Eton, the decision has reportedly been met with some reservations from the Princess of Wales. A royal insider revealed to In Touch Weekly in 2024 that Kate was “heartbroken” at the prospect of her son attending the prestigious boarding school, an institution renowned for producing 20 prime ministers, including notable figures like David Cameron and Boris Johnson.
The source indicated that the Princess of Wales “finally gave in” to the idea of Eton, even though she “long disagreed with her husband about sending him away.” The insider suggested that Kate felt sending George to such an “upper-crust institution” might contradict their broader efforts to modernise the monarchy. This sentiment underscores a potential tension between upholding historical royal customs and embracing a more contemporary image for the future of the British monarchy.
However, the final Eton decision is despite Kate reportedly being ‘heartbroken’ at the prospect of her son attending the prestigious school.
In 2024, a royal insider told In Touch Weekly that Kate ‘finally gave in’ to the idea of Eton, which produced 20 prime ministers, including
David Cameron
and
Boris Johnson
.
The source said this is even though she ‘long disagreed with her husband about sending him away,’ and Eton being a royal tradition.
The source added: ‘Kate thinks sending him to such a stuffy, upper-crust institution goes against all of their efforts to modernise the monarchy.’
