Prince George's godfather, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, has urged the 12-year-old to recognise his good fortune and give back to society as he prepares to start at Eton College this September. Kensington Palace announced last month that the eldest child of the Prince and Princess of Wales will follow in his father Prince William's footsteps at the prestigious Berkshire school, where annual fees are reported to be around £63,000.
Advice from a Godfather
Speaking on HELLO!'s A Right Royal Podcast while promoting his new book Beyond the Edge of Light, Lowther-Pinkerton shared his thoughts on George's new chapter. He said: 'I'm not saying this to lecture poor old George, but I'm saying if anybody goes to that sort of place, then you've got to take the opportunity to live it.'
He added: 'And actually, dare I say, you've got to then realise how lucky you've been, and you've got to pay back in some way. Whether it's through public service, the military or whatever, you've got to pay back. But it is a great privilege, and you don't want to waste it.'
Changes at Eton Over the Years
Lowther-Pinkerton, who attended Eton himself, noted that the school has changed significantly since his time. 'It's probably changed a lot since I went. Actually, it certainly has. And in many ways, it's changed for the better,' he said. 'My son was there too, so I've seen it quite recently. You're very, very privileged to go there and there are all sorts of amazing things you can do.'
Prince William attended Eton from 1995 to 2000. According to a former classmate who spoke anonymously to The Telegraph, William did not stand out as much as one might expect despite his royal status. 'You have to remember that at Eton, he never stood out that much,' the ex-student said. 'There were boys from even richer families than his, and also boys from very old English aristocratic stock, who could trace their lineage back thousands of years, and who would tease William for being an upstart German. We weren't in awe of William, and I don't think he would have wanted us to be.'
Handling Personal Tragedy
During William's time at Eton, his parents' divorce dominated tabloid headlines, and the following year his mother Princess Diana tragically died in a car crash. While hundreds of students reportedly wrote to William to express their condolences, few were willing to raise the subject with him in person, according to the former classmate.
George's Final Days at Lambrook
Last week marked George's final day at Lambrook, a private preparatory school for children aged three to 13 that offers flexible boarding arrangements. His siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, also attend the school. According to Lambrook's website, children aged seven to 13 can board from one night occasionally to five nights a week. The school has two boarding houses: Lambrook House for girls and Westfield for boys, each overseen by a house parent and supported by tutors.
