Prince George will enrol at Eton College this September, Kensington Palace has confirmed.
The eldest child of the Prince and Princess of Wales, who celebrates his 13th birthday in July, is set to join Britain's most prestigious all-boys boarding institution. Annual fees at the school stand at approximately £63,000.
The young prince will reside at Manor House, the same accommodation where both his father, Prince William, and uncle, Prince Harry, stayed during their Eton years. While full boarding is standard, pupils have some flexibility to return home at weekends.
Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will continue at Lambrook, where all three siblings have studied since 2022. Eton's location near Windsor places it conveniently close to the Wales family residence.
Prince William
Prince William's enrolment at Eton in 1995 represented a significant departure from established royal convention. His father, then Prince Charles, along with grandfather, Prince Philip, and his uncles Edward and Andrew, had all attended Gordonstoun in the Scottish Highlands.
Prince Philip championed the institution for its character-building philosophy. Charles, however, held a markedly different view of his time there and was not such a fan.
The choice to educate William at Windsor rather than in Scotland offered practical advantages. The teenage prince could easily visit his grandparents at the nearby castle during his free time.
William flourished academically during his time at the institution. He sat 12 GCSEs and subsequently completed three A-Levels, achieving an A in Geography, a B in Art History, and a C in Biology.
Beyond the classroom, he integrated swiftly into the school's social fabric. His peers elected him as a prefect, recognising his leadership qualities.
William also secured membership of Pop, the exclusive student society that represents the pinnacle of Eton's social hierarchy.
The future king's experience stood in marked contrast to that of his younger brother. Harry struggled to find his footing in the traditional classroom environment.
Prince Harry
Harry's arrival at Eton came just 12 months after the death of his mother, Princess Diana. In his memoir 'Spare,' he characterised the transition as a "profound shock" that left him utterly overwhelmed.
The Duke of Sussex recalled feeling so disoriented that he "didn't even know how to get dressed in the morning."
Despite his difficulties, Harry held the institution in high regard. He described Eton as both the "finest school in the world".
Traditional academic subjects proved particularly challenging for Harry but creative subjects and athletics offered some respite.
Sport became Harry's lifeline during those difficult years. Rugby, football, cricket, and polo transformed from mere extracurricular pursuits into a genuine sanctuary. The prince credits the school's extensive athletic programme with his survival at Eton.
Speaking to Time Magazine earlier this month, Harry reflected candidly on his school days. "I was one of those kids at school who did not enjoy classroom work," he said. "If it wasn't for the sports field and the amount of sports that were on offer, there's no way I would have stayed in school."
The relationship between the brothers at Eton carried its own tensions. When Harry joined the school, William made clear he expected distance between them.
In his memoir, Harry recounted his brother's position: "For the last two years, [William] explained, Eton had been his sanctuary. No kid brother tagging along, pestering him with questions, pushing up on his social circle. He was forging his own life, and he wasn't willing to give that up."
The future king viewed the school as an opportunity to establish an independent identity, separate from his younger sibling.
Harry recalled William's instruction to "pretend you don't know me."
The Duke of Sussex wrote that "for Willy it was pure agony to wear the same blazer, the same tight shorts, as me. And now, to attend the same school, was pure murder."
At the time, the younger prince took this rejection personally. He stated he simply replied: "I'll forget I ever knew you."
The Princess of Wales
The Middleton siblings' experiences at Marlborough College proved equally varied.
Catherine arrived at the Wiltshire institution midway through her education, having transferred from Downe House following reported bullying.
The move proved transformative for the future Princess of Wales and at Marlborough, she completely rebuilt her confidence going on to thrive at the school.
The co-educational boarding school, which admits both boys and girls, offered Catherine a fresh start away from her previous difficulties. She emerged from her years there with the self-assurance that would later serve her well in royal life.
Her siblings would follow her to the same institution, though with markedly different outcomes.
Pippa Middleton
Pippa Middleton secured entry through a prestigious sports and all-rounder scholarship, immediately establishing herself as a standout talent.
Where Catherine had been more reserved, Pippa embraced the school's vibrant social scene with natural ease. Her energetic personality drew her into the heart of campus life.
The sisters represented different approaches to the same environment. Catherine had needed Marlborough to rebuild herself after a difficult period, while Pippa arrived ready to seize every opportunity the school presented.
Their brother James, however, found his time at school much more difficult.
James Middleton
James Middleton's years at Marlborough proved deeply painful, as he has discussed with remarkable openness during his 2024 book tour. He described his sisters as the absolute "antithesis" of himself.
James felt the school celebrated only top academic results and first-team sporting success, neither of which he attained.
While teachers praised Catherine and Pippa, he accumulated demerits each term and struggled with persistent lateness.
James's dyslexia and Attention Deficit Disorder went unidentified throughout his teenage years and he felt there was a lack of support for his neurodivergence during that period.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams has told GB News that Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are in a very different position to previous generations of their family when it comes to schooling.
Mr Fitzwilliams said: “The situation is completely different. It is about the personality of each individual.
"They would not have sent George to Eton if they did not think he would thrive there.
“Each child’s personality will be taken into account. Catherine is an expert in this.
“The choices will be based on their children’s personalities. They have more flexibility with Charlotte and Louis, who will not be queen or king."
The royal commentator continued: “It may be that Louis goes to Marlborough if Charlotte goes there. That would be the sort of arrangement I would expect.
“George joins a distinguished school that has produced 20 prime ministers; his uncle and father went there. It is nearby, and the security arrangements there are very good."
He concluded: “There are only two working royals under the age of 60, so the future of the Royal Family is in the very capable hands of the Waleses, including George, Charlotte and Louis.”
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