A former classmate of Prince William has revealed that the future king was given a two-word nickname by fellow pupils during his time at Eton College. The disclosure comes as Kensington Palace announced that Prince George will follow in his father's and uncle's footsteps by attending the prestigious Berkshire school from September.
School Days at Eton
The former student, who attended Eton alongside the Prince of Wales between 1995 and 2000, shared memories of the royal's school years. According to him, William did not stand out as much as many might expect, despite his royal status. 'We weren't in awe of William, and I don't think he would have wanted us to be,' he told The Telegraph.
Revealing the nickname, he added: 'You have to remember that at Eton, he never stood out that much - 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.' He noted that William was popular but also just one of the crowd.
Dealing with Personal Tragedy
During William's time at the school, the divorce of his parents, King Charles and Princess Diana, dominated tabloid headlines. However, according to his former classmate, the subject was rarely discussed among pupils. The following year, after his mother tragically died in a car crash, hundreds of students reportedly wrote to William to express their condolences. Yet few were willing to raise the subject with him in person.
'I think it was the only way we knew how to behave,' the former student said. 'We had all watched Diana's funeral on television, but we just kept quiet. It was all very British stiff upper lip and probably looks bad from a 2026 perspective, but I suspect it's what he'd have preferred at the time.'
Prince George's Upcoming Enrollment
News of George's enrollment at Eton comes after Prince William recently spoke of the 'chaotic' school run with George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. During a special guest appearance on the Heart Radio Breakfast Show last month, he jokingly urged his daughter and youngest son to ensure they arrived at school on time, while revealing that his eldest was attending boarding school.
He said: 'Charlotte and Louis, because George is boarding last night, if you're listening, make sure you're on time, please. Make sure you're not fighting over who's listening to what this morning.'
All three of The Prince and Princess of Wales' children currently attend Lambrook, a private preparatory school for pupils aged three to 13 that offers flexible boarding arrangements. Children aged seven to 13 can board for anything from one night every so often to five nights a week. According to the school's website, there are two boarding houses: Lambrook House for girls and Westfield for boys, each overseen by a house parent and supported by tutors.
