Following in his father’s footsteps, Prince George is set to enrol at Eton College in just a few weeks’ time – but what can we expect from this new chapter? As he embraces teenhood and gets ready to fly the nest, we take a look at what’s in store for the young Prince
Words: Amy Dowrick | Images: Getty
Since announcing at the start of the summer that his chosen college was the prestigious school set in Berkshire, preparation has been underway for the King’s grandson to have a smooth transition into boarding life.
But the decision didn’t come lightly. According to insiders, the family had also been considering Marlborough College in Wiltshire, where Princess Catherine attended.
But it was ultimately down to Eton’s proximity to the family home in Windsor that the final decision arrived at Eton. A source told the Daily Express: “The decision wasn’t just about George; they had to factor in Charlotte and Louis as well. Ultimately, they wanted him to stay near the family.”
They added: “William is thrilled that his son wanted to follow in his footsteps. He’s incredibly proud.”
The young prince will be leaving behind Lambrook School, the private prep school in Berkshire, where he occasionally boards alongside his siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
But having lived quite a shielded life away from the cameras while under his parents’ roof for the last 13 years, what might be in store for him once boarding at Eton – and what becomes his new normal?
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What will life look like at Eton?
Life at modern Eton offers far more than the traditional image of classrooms, uniforms and ancient buildings that George’s predecessors might’ve experienced. The school places as much emphasis on the boys’ enjoyment of their studies as they do on academic achievement.
George can expect to choose from 28 academic subjects during his time at the school. Alongside core subjects such as English, maths, biology, chemistry and physics, the young prince will also have access to an extensive range of other fields, including ancient history, Latin, government and politics, theology, and music.
Languages also play a particularly prominent role at the school, with nine modern and classical languages offered, including, French, German, Italian, Russian, Mandarin, and Arabic. There are also a whopping 25 sports available to play, and students can choose to take part in 50 music ensembles and choirs throughout the term – while 18 plays are staged each year.
“Eton, above all other schools, has a breadth that’s really unparalleled,” says education consultant Melanie Sanderson. “He will be rubbing shoulders with the children of the great and the good from all around the world.”
Prince George as a modern student
But how different will George’s experience be to his father’s, over 30 years ago? Life as a student today is often made complicated with distractions, smartphones and social media – but what might his royal status add to the mix?
Social media
“Yes, he’s following in the footsteps of his father, however his father wasn’t a teenager at Eton during an era of social media or AI,” says journalist Charlene White. “So, there’s only so much that they can actually shield him from once he’s not living underneath their roof, and once he’s out there at secondary school with hundreds of other boys who may well have access to social media – both the good sides and the bad.”
And despite Eton not allowing the boys to have smartphones, encouraging the use of ‘brick’ phones with the sole purpose of calling home, this sort of shielding more than likely won’t last long – with other students almost guaranteed to sneak one in (they’re Eton boys, after all).
“It’s not just about him having a brick phone – it’s also the fact that not every other child that goes to that school will have a brick phone,” adds Charlene. “His world could suddenly be open to criticism of him as an individual because he’s heir to the throne.”
Privacy
“It’s entirely possible that George will be seen by members of the public,” says ITV’s Royal Editor Chris Ship. “These are the days of the camera phone and the smartphone, where people can say ‘I’ve just seen Prince George’ – whereas William didn’t have that.”
And while there is debate on whether the press should be allowed to join him on his first day, many see it as an opportunity to capture a historic moment for the future heir.
“If media is allowed, it will be one photographer, one television camera and one print reporter,” says Royal Expert Lizzie Robinson. “So, the group will be much smaller.”
“By allowing the media the chance to capture his first day at school, there is then the agreement that the media back off, leave him alone and let him go to school and have a as normal an education as is possible,” she adds. “It’s also what happened when William went to St Andrews.”
But with media coverage comes the risk of alienating his peers – and since experiencing as normal an upbringing as a young royal can up to this point, it could ruin his chances at being a ‘normal’ schoolboy.
“I think when he’s trying to make friends at a new school, we shouldn’t feel like we have a right to see him on his very first day,” says Charlene. “I think he should be given half a chance of just walking in normally like everybody else. I just don’t feel we have a right to demand that kind of footage.”
“This seems quite archaic in 2026, I think,” she adds. “I think that we have to get over the fact that we feel like we are owed certain moments within their lives.”
But security presence will have to be especially strong in the first few months after his enrolment. A royal insider has claimed that George is a massively high-profile kidnap and terrorism target, so there will be a ring of steel thrown around Eton after he starts attending.
Though this security plan will try to balance George’s safety with giving him as normal a school experience as possible – the challenge is allowing the young Prince enough independence to enjoy school, but also ensuring every foreseeable risk is addressed.
So, is the young prince ready for this next step?
“I’m sure that his father will have shared many of his stories and memories of when he was at Eton,” says Grant Harrold, Royal Butler and former butler to King Charles. “I’m sure that he’ll be fully aware of what to expect and he’ll make it his own. Hopefully he’ll enjoy it.”
Prince George will start Eton College on September 8th.
