Prince George, third in line to the British throne, will begin attending Eton College in September, Kensington Palace confirmed on June 16. The prestigious boarding school in Berkshire educates around 1,345 boys aged 12 to 19 and was founded in 1440 by Henry VI. George's father, William, Prince of Wales, also attended Eton, as did his uncle Prince Harry, former Prime Ministers David Cameron and Boris Johnson, and actors Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hiddleston, and Hugh Laurie.
Eton's Academic and Extracurricular Excellence
Eton College charges annual fees of more than £63,000. The school is renowned for academic excellence, with nearly all pupils scoring grades 7-9 in GCSEs in 2025, and over three-quarters of A-Level students achieving A or A*. Pupils can choose from up to 28 subjects, including nine modern and classical languages such as Latin and Ancient Greek. The late Queen Elizabeth II received private lessons in constitutional history from Henry Marten, a former Vice-Provost of Eton.
Outside the classroom, Eton boasts 350 acres of playing fields and offers 25 sports, including the handball game Eton fives. The school has its own jargon, with terms like 'beak' for teacher, 'div' for lesson, and 'chore' for a sanction. A 'slack bob' refers to a boy who neither plays sport nor participates in cricket or rowing.
Expert Insights on George's Transition
Melanie Sanderson, managing editor of The Good Schools Guide, told People that Eton's terminology is 'from a bygone era,' but noted that William's familiarity with the system means it 'has probably been part of his vernacular for most of his life.' She added, 'As parents, you do talk about your school days, and your kids can relate to that. I'm confident that he will be very well prepared.'
Sanderson suggested that like any parents, Catherine and William 'will be concerned that he's going to find his place, find the right kind of friends and thrive.' She highlighted changes in boarding school culture, saying, '30 years ago, boys were not encouraged to talk about their feelings and boarding schools were much harder places to be. Now there is such an emphasis on pastoral care and mental health.'
George's Current School and Family Context
Prince George currently studies at Lambrook School, a private prep school in Berkshire where he boards. His siblings, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, 8, also attend Lambrook. The announcement from Kensington Palace on June 16 stated: 'Kensington Palace can confirm that Prince George will attend Eton College from this September.'
