Prince George's first day at Eton College was not the picture-perfect arrival many might have anticipated. The clouds were grey, the rain was lashing down, and the wind meant the downpour came from all directions.
However, sunshine wasn't needed to brighten the mood, as it was clear as soon as the young prince stepped into the quadrangle that he was brimming with excitement. Chatting away with his parents, who stood either side of him, the second in line to the throne was clearly looking forward to his new chapter away from home.
A Brief and Private Welcome
Aged 13 and almost as tall as his mother, who was wearing a forest green dress and brown heeled pumps, George appeared eager to get inside. He and the Prince and Princess of Wales chatted with Eton's headmaster and chief provost outside very briefly, due in part to the miserable weather, before George led his parents into the fourth form passage in the original school building.
The prince will have signed the school entrance book, which officially records each pupil's enrolment at the school. However, unlike his father's first day, this element was not recorded by the press and remained a private moment for the family.
A Different Approach to Media Attention
When William first arrived at Eton alongside his parents and younger brother, he was met by a sea of waiting photographers, camera crews, reporters and members of the public. Hundreds of people swarmed the entrance and watched with anticipation as the future king navigated his first moments at the world-renowned school.
However, George's parents took an entirely different approach. Just a handful of journalists were permitted in the quadrangle to document the young prince's arrival, and crowds were blocked from waiting outside — not that they would have caught a glimpse of him as the family did not walk up through the Windsor streets. This echoes William and Catherine's desire for their son's time at Eton to be protected from media and public attention. Notices have already been posted around the town warning the public not to photograph the pupils when they are walking through the streets between lessons.
Official Photographs and a New Chapter
The media-savvy couple have shared official photographs of George in his new school uniform to help reduce the clamour for images of the royal wearing the traditional Eton dress. In three images released by Kensington Palace, the 13-year-old exudes a quiet confidence. He casually leans against one of the arches, as his father did in one of his official photos from Eton, and in the close-up photo he is grinning from ear to ear.
What these images show us is that George is no longer a young boy, but a teenager who will one day be king. His parents are hoping to safeguard the next five years of his life, to allow him to grow into who he wants to be and enter royal life at his own pace. William knows firsthand that Eton provides a safe, supportive environment for the prince to be an ordinary boy away from the public gaze. He hopes he'll follow in his footsteps by enjoying every minute at the school and foster lifelong friendships. The prince and princess's main priority is for George to have fun and have the freedom of any other pupil.
