On a Saturday in June, Kensington Palace announced that Prince George, second in line to the British throne, will begin his secondary education at Eton College in September. For a family whose every move is scrutinised, the choice of school is more than a private matter — it is a statement about tradition, privilege and the preparation of a future king.
Prince George is the eldest son of the Prince and Princess of Wales. He is 12 years old and will turn 13 next month, the minimum age at which pupils can start at Eton. He currently attends Lambrook School in Berkshire, a private prep school, alongside his sister Charlotte and brother Louis. The Palace's announcement ended months of speculation about where he would go next. Among the options reportedly considered was Marlborough College, the school his mother Catherine attended. But the Waleses chose the more traditional path: Eton College, the historic boarding school for boys that their father William, uncle Harry and great uncle Earl Spencer all attended.
“Prince George's choice of Eton College for his secondary education explained.”
Eton College was founded in the 15th Century and is located near Windsor in Berkshire. Fees are around £63,000 a year, and the school has educated 20 British prime ministers, including David Cameron, Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg. Its alumni also include celebrities such as Eddie Redmayne, Dominic West and Tom Hiddleston. The school has 25 boarding houses, each with about 55 pupils, and provides each boy with a private single room. The Good Schools Guide describes it as having "spectacular facilities and spacious grounds", while Melanie Sanderson, the guide's managing editor, says: "Despite its ancient buildings, it is a modern school with a progressive outlook."
For the royal family, the choice of school is deeply personal but also public. Prince William, when interviewed at age 18 in June 2000, said: "I've really enjoyed being able to go about Eton as just another student." His brother Harry, in his memoir Spare, wrote that rugby became his stress relief at Eton, saying: "Rugby let me indulge my rage. I simply didn't feel pain the way other boys did, which made me scary on a pitch." George will now become a boarder, living at the school during term time.
Why does this matter for UK readers? The decision spotlights the enduring role of elite private education in British public life. Eton has produced not only royals but also a disproportionate share of the country's political leaders and cultural figures. At a time when the government has added VAT to private school fees, the cost of such an education — and the advantages it confers — remains a topic of national debate. For many readers, this story also offers a glimpse into how a future monarch is being prepared for a life of public duty, balancing privilege with the need for a normal childhood within the extraordinary constraints of royal life.
Q: Why did Prince George choose Eton over other schools? Kensington Palace has not given a reason, but Eton is a traditional choice for the royal family. His father, Prince William, and uncle Prince Harry both attended, as did his great uncle Earl Spencer. The Wales family also visited Marlborough College, but ultimately chose Eton.
Q: How much does Eton cost, and who pays? Annual fees are around £63,000 per pupil. The Prince and Princess of Wales will pay the fees privately. The school is also subject to VAT added by the government to private school fees.
Q: What is life like at Eton for a new pupil? Boys typically start at age 13 and become boarders. Each pupil lives in a boarding house with about 55 others, supervised by a house master and residential staff, and has their own single room. The Good Schools Guide notes that some boys adjust quickly, while others need time to settle in.
What happens next? Prince George will finish his current term at Lambrook School in July, then start at Eton in September. He will turn 13 in July and become a boarder. As he grows older, he is expected to take on more public duties, a process that has already begun with appearances at events such as the Trooping the Colour ceremony.