A Royal Tradition Confirmed
It's official — Prince George is heading to Eton. Kensington Palace confirmed on Tuesday that the 12-year-old will attend the famous all-boys school from September, following in the footsteps of his father, Prince William, who studied there between 1995 and 2000. The announcement ends months of fevered speculation about where the second-in-line to the throne would continue his education.
A brief statement from Kensington Palace read simply: "Kensington Palace can confirm that Prince George will attend Eton College from September." Short, crisp and — for royal watchers who've spent the better part of a year debating Marlborough versus Oundle versus Eton — enormously satisfying.
George, who turns 13 in July, is currently finishing his final term at Lambrook School in Berkshire, which he has attended since 2022. His younger siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, will remain at Lambrook when the new school year begins — meaning it will be the first time in four years that the three Wales children haven't walked through the same school gates.
The Phone Rule Is Crumbling
The Eton news comes with an unexpected subplot. William, who has been famously strict about keeping his children away from mobile phones, appears to be softening his position ahead of George's move to secondary school.
Speaking to Brazilian broadcaster Luciano Huck during a visit for the Earthshot Prize awards, William admitted the no-phone rule had become a sore subject at home.
"I think when George moves on to secondary school, then maybe he might have a phone that has no internet access. It's getting to the point where it's becoming a little bit of a tense issue — but I think he understands why."
William had previously declared on Eugene Levy's Apple TV+ series The Reluctant Traveller that none of his three children had phones — something he described as a matter of principle rather than punishment. His concern, he has said repeatedly, is not the phone itself but the internet access that comes with it. A basic "brick phone" for calls and texts, he suggested, is acceptable. A smartphone with unrestricted browsing very much is not.
Given that Eton is a short 15-minute drive from the family's Windsor home, Forest Lodge, George could feasibly pop back at weekends — but boarding, even part-time, will naturally make staying in touch more of a practical necessity. William himself boarded at Eton's Manor House during his time there, and was known to spend his free Sunday afternoons making the short trip to Windsor Castle for tea with the late Queen.
Walking in His Father's Footsteps
For royal observers, the choice of Eton will feel almost inevitable in retrospect. William and Kate were reportedly spotted touring the school with George as far back as 2023, and the proximity to their Windsor home has always made it a logical fit. The Good Schools Guide managing editor Melanie Sanderson put it neatly, noting that "you can see Eton College from Windsor Castle" — a detail that rather elegantly captures why the decision makes sense for this particular family.
Founded by Henry VI in 1440, Eton has educated 20 British Prime Ministers, including Robert Walpole, David Cameron and Boris Johnson. George's uncle Prince Harry attended, as did his great-uncle Earl Charles Spencer. The school's famous uniform — tailcoats, waistcoat and striped trousers — remains unchanged, and its traditions are fiercely preserved.
William left Eton in 2000 with 12 GCSEs and three A-levels, going on to study at St Andrews, where he met Catherine. He has spoken warmly of his time there, saying he enjoyed being able to move around the school "as just another student" — a small luxury that royal expert Jennie Bond suggests may be harder to replicate for George, given how much the media landscape has shifted in 30 years.
"When William was 13, he began his secondary education at Eton. Both his parents were at his side — but by then, they were officially separated. George's situation is very different."
Indeed it is. George arrives at Eton as the son of one of the most popular couples in British public life, with a settled family home minutes down the road. At £63,298 a year, the fees are eye-watering — but for the future King of England, Eton has always been more than just a school. It's a statement of continuity.
