Prince George is set to leave Lambrook School within days as he prepares to turn 13 and transition to the next stage of his education at Eton College this September. The young royal, who has attended Lambrook since 2022, will become a full-time student and boarder at the prestigious all-boys school, which charges £63,298 per year. While George is said to be excited about the move, he will face a daunting initiation early in the new term: the 'colours test.'
What Is the Colours Test?
According to royal biographer and historian Hugo Vickers, a former Eton alumnus, the colours test is a tradition in which new students are quizzed by senior peers on the locations of school buildings and the official colours of each of the 25 boarding houses. Vickers shared details of the test with The Times, noting that it can be nerve-wracking for incoming pupils. However, George may have a significant advantage: his father, Prince William, also attended Eton and likely underwent the same test, meaning he can offer firsthand guidance.
Advantage Over Peers
This familial insight is a trick up George's sleeve that not all new Eton students will have. William's experience could help George navigate the test with greater confidence. The move to Eton marks George's first time living away from his parents, Prince William and Princess Catherine, as well as his siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. However, because Eton is located close to the family's Forest Lodge home in Windsor, he is expected to see them frequently.
Timeline of Transition
George has just a few days left at Lambrook before the summer holidays begin. He will then start at Eton in September, embarking on a new chapter that combines academic rigor with longstanding traditions like the colours test. The transition is part of a broader period of change for the young prince, who is also adjusting to the public eye as a senior member of the royal family.
