As the summer holidays draw in, the Princess of Wales is bracing herself for a seismic shift when it comes to her oldest son, Prince George. It has been confirmed that from September, the second-in-line to the throne will follow in his father Prince William's footsteps and attend the £63,000-a-year Eton College. His secondary education at the school, which has educated 20 former Prime Ministers, comes after four seemingly happy years at Lambrook, alongside siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
It is likely he will board full-time at Eton, leaving the confines of the family home. Sources say Kate and William's decision to send him to the school was long thought out, with the choice made as far back as last September.
Royal expert on Kate's pride
Royal expert Jennie Bond exclusively told the Mirror that it is clear to see Kate's pride in her oldest son, and that her and William's choice shows she will always do what is best for each of her children. The former BBC royal correspondent explained: “I’m sure Catherine is immensely proud of George. He seems to be growing not only in stature, but in self-confidence. Recently, he has looked far more at ease in front of the cameras, and he’s definitely more of a young man now than a child.”
“George and his siblings have had a great deal to contend with in the past few years, but with their parents’ careful nurturing, they appear to be doing just fine. Catherine must look at George – and these days he can almost look her straight in the eye – and think what a handsome, self-assured young chap he has become.”
Reasons for choosing Eton
Many factors influenced Kate and William's decision. The school is used to educating pupils from high-profile families with complex security arrangements, such as those required for a future King. The Prince and Princess of Wales visited several other schools, including Marlborough College – Kate's old school – before finally picking Eton. One major factor was that William's time at the school was a great source of happiness for him.
During his time there, William became a prefect and joined several sports teams, including water polo, house football, and swimming. He gained 12 GCSEs and three A-levels, earning him a place at St Andrew's University, where he met his future wife. William once said: “I’ve really enjoyed being able to go about Eton as just another student.”
Eton as a haven
Jennie Bond added: “For William, Eton was not simply a haven during some of the most difficult years of his life; it was fun. It saw him through some of the most difficult days of his life, with his parents at war over their failing marriage, screaming headlines about them every day and tragically – the death of Diana. The school was his haven and sanctuary through those traumatic years. He made life-long friends there, friends he could confide in and trust.”
“But Eton is not only hot on academic achievements – and William did extremely well in his exams – but it’s also mad keen on sport. We know George loves football, but perhaps he will also follow his father, who captained the swimming team and got regularly roughed up on the rugby field.”
The school also allows boys a fair amount of privacy, each having their own bed and study room with a desk and TV if they want. Jennie noted: “So George will be able to close the door and be on his own when he chooses. And I’m sure that was something William appreciated - living in a dormitory must seem relentless at times.”
Emotional impact on Kate
When George's move to Eton takes place in September, it will be a huge change for the young prince, who turns 13 next month, and for the rest of his family – especially his mother. Kate has made the family home of Forest Lodge a sanctuary, which will feel different when George is boarding full-time. Jennie said: “Personally, I can’t imagine how sad this will be for Catherine, who clearly adores her children and clucks around them like a mother hen. But she, too, enjoyed her days at boarding school, and so I’m sure she’ll be wishing him off with a tear in her eye but a firm belief that he will be heading into a boisterous, formative and fun life in a place that served William so very well.”
It is not as if they won’t see George: the boys can go home every two or three weeks, and parents can take them out on Sunday afternoons. They are also encouraged to attend sports, music, or drama events and take part in social activities.
About Eton College
Eton is one of the country’s oldest and most exclusive schools, dating back to 1440 when it was founded by Henry VI. Notable Old Etonians include Prince Harry, David Cameron, Boris Johnson, and actors Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hiddleston, and Hugh Laurie. The school educates around 1,345 boys between the ages of 12 and 19, offering up to 28 subjects, including nine modern and classical languages such as Latin and Ancient Greek. Outside the classroom, the school boasts 350 acres of playing fields and offers 25 different sports, including Eton fives, a handball game invented at the College in the late 19th century.
When George arrives, like all new boys, he will need to accustom himself to the uniform, first adopted in 1820 in mourning for King George III. The uniform consists of black tailcoats and waistcoat, pin-stripe trousers, winged collars and a white bow-tie. The school day starts at about 7.30am with breakfast in the boarding house, followed an hour later by Chapel. Lessons end at about 5pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; Tuesdays and Thursdays are half-days, but pupils also work half a day on Saturdays.
Modernising image vs tradition
Some eyebrows have been raised by William and Kate’s decision to send George to traditional Eton, especially given their attempts to cultivate a modernising image for the monarchy. But Jennie said: “This isn’t about William. It’s about George and where he will be happy and safe – particularly in this age when everyone has a camera phone. Eton protected and nurtured William and Harry. It will do the same for George, and probably, eventually, Louis. There will be other ways to show George that many people live in great hardship. I’ve no doubt his parents will continue to ensure he has some experience of life outside the gilded cage.”
