After months, if not years, of speculation, the Prince and Princess of Wales have confirmed that their eldest son, Prince George, will attend the prestigious Eton College. While this may have appeared the most likely choice all along, it has not been without a degree of angst for William and Kate. As any parent of school-aged children will know, the most significant decision regarding a child's schooling involves considerable thought, regardless of one's circumstances.
Although some reports today have claimed the decision was reached just a few months ago, it can be revealed that Eton has been the front runner for a considerable amount of time. Both the Prince and Princess of Wales told those closest to them that they had jointly decided, along with George, that the Windsor school was the one, as far back as the beginning of the school year last September.
Due diligence aside, William and Kate, together with George, personally visited other schools, including Kate's alma mater, Marlborough College, which both the Prince and Princess came away very impressed with. However, Eton has won out for a variety of reasons. The lure of an institution that has shaped future kings and generations of Britain's political leaders proved both important and influential, but Eton's proximity to the family's new 'forever home,' Forest Lodge in Windsor, has been crucial. It also provides a sense of continuity, with William having attended the Windsor school in the 1990s.
From before George was born, the Prince and Princess have thought long and hard about their children's futures, especially that of their firstborn, who will one day become king. William and Kate grew up in considerably different worlds, but the influence of Kate's close-knit family life and idyllic upbringing in the Berkshire countryside has had a profound effect on their parenting. Family is everything to them, and while their children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—have become more visible at royal events in recent years, they have done their utmost to protect them from the pressures of growing up in the institution, a consideration that was not largely afforded to William and his brother Harry growing up.
While William enjoyed the opportunity to attend Eton and spread his wings away from the glare of the world's press and the disintegration of his parents' marriage, Harry struggled academically at school and had a more mixed experience. Nevertheless, he too has spoken fondly of his time there. Kate also experienced happy times at Marlborough, where she formed close friendships that have lasted decades, after an unfortunate episode of bullying at her former school, Downe House.
It has not been confirmed whether George will board full time, but those who do are permitted to go home on weekends. Just being down the road has undoubtedly settled both parents' nerves when packing their son off for such a life-changing experience. For William and Kate, the advantage of achieving both practicality and base at familiar territory, for William at least, has had the edge. The decision also reflects a broader theme of William and Kate's approach to royal life: modernizing the monarchy without abandoning its traditions. The school also offers a level of privacy and security that few institutions can match.
Educating a future king presents many challenges, as George's grandfather, King Charles, can confirm. His time at Gordonstoun in Scotland resulted in a largely unhappy experience, leading the former Prince of Wales to describe the setting as 'Colditz in kilts,' comparing its Spartan routine, grueling physical demands, and strict environment to the Nazi prisoner of war camp. Times have changed considerably since the late Duke of Edinburgh's generation, when he packed young Charles off with a view that the harsh environment would be the making of his shy son, who was already low on confidence.
The subject of George's schooling has been an entirely different affair. While his life and those of his family are undeniably blanketed in privilege, and the opportunity of attending the College is largely afforded only to the very elite in society, William's own experiences have informed their approach. As Prince George prepares for the next chapter of his life, his years at Eton will inevitably be watched closely. Yet his parents will hope that, like his father before him, he is given the space to learn, grow, and forge his own path before the responsibilities of kingship come into view.
