In royal circles, there is a time when conjecture subtly solidifies into certainty. People had been observing, speculating, and secretly discussing for months whether the Prince of Wales would send his oldest son to Marlborough, Kate’s traditional, coeducational, and modern school, or if the allure of Eton would be too great. Ultimately, Kensington Palace announced that Prince George will start attending Eton College in September. It appears that tradition had the last say.
It’s difficult to ignore how difficult this choice is. Eton is more than just a school. It is located in Berkshire, just a short drive from Windsor. The chapel spires can be seen from some sections of the Thames, and the red-brick cloisters bear the weight of almost six centuries of history. In 1440, Henry VI established it. Its corridors have been traversed by twenty British prime ministers. The Duke of Wellington is inextricably linked to its playing fields, despite the fact that the quote is frequently misattributed. And now, a 12-year-old boy will enter this institution in September with perhaps more expectations than any previous student.
Phil Dampier, a royal correspondent, had anticipated this. In a February letter, he mentioned a trustworthy source that strongly suggested Eton. He described it as “almost certain,” which is as close to a guarantee as you get in the precise language of royal reporting. Dampier’s suspicions from months earlier were confirmed by Kensington Palace’s brief and straightforward official statement.
According to all accounts, Prince William enjoyed attending Eton starting in 1995—not for the prestige or the history, but for a more straightforward reason. “I’ve really enjoyed being able to go about Eton as just another student,” he remarked as his stay came to an end. That’s probably George’s hope as well. Even so, it’s difficult to be just another student when cameras are following you everywhere you go.
What’s intriguing is what the Waleses decided against doing. Marlborough College, where Kate studied, is coeducational, and there was a genuine sense that William and Kate might gravitate toward something less conventionally elite, so for a while it seemed like a real possibility. Schools in North London were reportedly taken into consideration as well. However, the well-known route ultimately prevailed. An Old Etonian is Prince Harry. Charles Spencer, Princess Diana’s brother, is also. The sense of continuity may have been more important than any statement about contemporary education because of the strong familial ties.
George, who has been attending Lambrook School with Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte since 2022, will graduate on July 4. On July 22, he will turn 13. A few weeks between the end of one chapter and the start of another, much bigger one, has a subtle poignancy. The annual cost of Eton’s fees is about AUD$125,000, but it’s safe to assume that William and Kate weren’t troubled by money.
George won’t feel completely cut off from family life during term because Forest Lodge, the family’s Windsor home, is sufficiently close. That closeness seems intentional—a tiny, sensible compromise to the realities of raising kids in the spotlight while still giving them something close to a typical adolescent experience.
The specifics of George’s Eton years are still unknown. The school has been juggling the conflict between its historical identity and the contemporary world that is encroaching on it for decades. September appears to be a true turning point for the institution itself, which will now house the future king within its historic walls, as well as for a boy who is about to enter adolescence.
