Royal Heir's Elite Schooling
Kensington Palace Confirms Prince George Set for Eton College, Ending Months of Speculation
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Key Points
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Kensington Palace’s confirmation comes as Prince George approaches 13: he is set to move to Eton shortly after celebrating his 13th birthday next month (or “this summer,” depending on reporting).
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Eton’s cost and format add to the scrutiny: Firstpost reports annual fees of about £63,000, with students living in boarding houses supervised by residential staff and typically having a private room.
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A report in The Spectator claims the decision leaned heavily on Prince William’s personal experience—saying William “loved it there,” was in the school’s “Pop” club, and that “Prince Harry… struggled academically at Eton and didn’t enjoy himself so much,” making it “inevitable” George would follow William’s route.
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Prince Harry’s expected reaction is described with specific personal details: Geo.tv reports he previously talked about introducing the Invictus Games to George, described wanting to be a “fun uncle” in Spare, and that Spare includes a memory of William instructing him to “pretend that they didn’t know each other at school”; Geo.tv also notes Harry has said Eton uniform reminded him of Princess Diana’s funeral and that Eton gave him “the ‘groundwork’ for his army career.”
Kensington Palace has confirmed that Prince George will attend Eton College starting in September, ending months of speculation that he might instead follow his mother to Marlborough College. IBTimes The announcement makes George the third generation of his family to attend the elite all-boys boarding school, after both Prince William and Prince Harry.
George is set to join Eton shortly after his 13th birthday this summer. MindFood The school, founded in 1440 and located near Windsor Castle, charges around £63,000 per year in fees. MindFood
William's Love for Eton Made George's Choice Inevitable
The decision reportedly came down to Prince William's personal connection to the school. Newsy Today According to The Spectator, William "loved it there" and was a member of "Pop" — Eton's prestigious student leadership club. The report called George's enrollment "inevitable" given how strongly William felt about his own time there.
Princess Catherine had reportedly considered Marlborough College, the co-educational school she attended herself. IBTimes But the couple ultimately agreed on Eton, partly because of its proximity to Adelaide Cottage, the Wales family's Windsor home. That location also helps meet the significant security demands that come with raising a future king.
£63,000-a-Year School Sparks Debate Over Royal Class Divide
Eton's fees run about £63,000 per year. MindFood Students live in boarding houses, each with their own private room and supervised by residential staff. The school educates around 1,350 boys and sends roughly 20–25% of graduates to Oxford or Cambridge each year.
The choice has drawn sharp criticism online and in outlets like The Guardian. Critics argue that sending a future monarch to an elite private school reinforces "class silos" rather than connecting the Royal Family to ordinary British life. Some have called for George to attend a high-performing state school as a show of solidarity with the public. Head Topics
Harry Plans to Offer Best Wishes Despite His Own Difficult Memories
Prince Harry is not expected to attend any events marking George's Eton start, but royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams says Harry will offer his best wishes. Geo.tv In his memoir Spare, Harry wrote that William once told him to "pretend that they didn't know each other at school" — a detail that has resurfaced now as people wonder how George will navigate being a royal among peers.
Harry has described Eton with mixed feelings. He has said the uniform reminded him of Princess Diana's funeral, and that he "struggled academically" while there. Geo.tv But he has also credited the school with giving him the "groundwork" for his army career. In Spare, he described wanting to be a "fun uncle" to George and once talked about introducing George to the Invictus Games.
A School Steeped in History, Now Shaped by Modern Security Needs
Eton was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI. It has educated 20 British Prime Ministers and countless other public figures. Newsy Today The school sits just a short distance from Windsor Castle, which has long made it an attractive choice for royals who want their children close to the family's base.
George's arrival will require a significant security operation. Officers from the Metropolitan Police's specialist protection unit are expected to live on-site or nearby. IBTimes His enrollment may also drive up interest from wealthy international families hoping to have their children educated alongside a future King — a so-called "Royal Effect" on admissions.
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