Prince George is set to attend Eton College this autumn, following in the footsteps of his father, Prince William, and the decision has a specific reason behind it, according to royal sources.
Prince George's School Choice
George, 12, who appeared with his family at the Trooping the Colour ceremony, will become a pupil at the prestigious boys' school that educated both William and his brother, Prince Harry. Eton, founded in 1440 by Henry VI, is one of Britain's oldest and most exclusive public schools, having educated 20 prime ministers and generations of royalty.
Decision-Making Process
Royal insiders said that while the decision for George to attend Eton was made in January, the Prince and Princess of Wales wanted to wait before officially announcing it. Various schools had been competing to educate the second-in-line to the throne. The Wales family also considered Marlborough College, the co-educational boarding school where Princess Catherine excelled.
Proximity to Windsor appears to have been the deciding factor. A source told the Daily Express: "The decision wasn't just about George; they had to factor in Charlotte and Louis as well. Ultimately, they wanted him to stay near the family." The source added: "William is thrilled that his son wanted to follow in his footsteps. He's incredibly proud."
Official Announcement
A Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed: "Kensington Palace can confirm that Prince George will attend Eton College from this September."
George currently studies at Lambrook School, a private prep school in Berkshire, where he boards alongside his siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Notable Old Etonians
Aside from Prince William and Prince Harry, other notable Old Etonians include former Prime Ministers David Cameron and Boris Johnson, as well as actors Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hiddleston, and Hugh Laurie. The late Queen even took history lessons at Eton from tutor Henry Marten.
Eton College charges annual fees exceeding £63,000 and is renowned for academic excellence, with dozens of pupils securing places at Oxford and Cambridge each year. Last year, almost all pupils scored grades 7-9 in their GCSEs, while more than three-quarters of A-Level students achieved an A or A*.
