Prince George Set to Attend Eton College This September
In a momentous milestone for the British royal family, Prince George — the eldest child of Prince William and Princess Kate — is set to leave the family home this September to begin his studies at Eton College. The announcement, made official on June 16 via a statement from Kensington Palace, confirmed what royal watchers had long speculated: that the 12-year-old heir to the throne would follow in the footsteps of both his father and his uncle, Prince Harry, by enrolling at one of the most prestigious and storied boarding schools in the world.
What Is Eton College and Why Does It Matter?
Founded in 1440 by King Henry VI, Eton College is one of the oldest and most celebrated educational institutions in the United Kingdom. Located in the town of Eton, Berkshire — just a short 10-minute drive from the Wales family's Windsor home — the school has produced a remarkable number of notable alumni, including prime ministers, world leaders, and members of the British royal family across multiple generations.
Eton is an all-boys school, and a defining feature of its educational model is that all students are required to be full-time boarders. Rather than commuting from home each day, pupils live on campus throughout the school week, returning to their families only during holidays and designated weekend visits. According to Eton's official website, this residential structure is intentional, designed to help boys "develop their closest friendships" and build strong social bonds that last a lifetime.
Today, the privilege of an Eton education comes with a significant price tag. Annual fees currently stand at approximately $80,000 — a figure that reflects the school's world-class facilities, highly regarded faculty, and centuries-long reputation for academic and extracurricular excellence.
A Royal Tradition: William and Harry's Eton Years
For the Wales family, George's enrollment at Eton is far more than a simple school choice — it is the continuation of a deeply personal royal tradition. Prince William, now the Prince of Wales and heir apparent to the British throne, attended Eton College himself. His younger brother, Prince Harry, also completed his secondary education at the same institution. Both princes were full-time boarders during their respective tenures at the school, living the same campus lifestyle that George will soon experience.
The fact that George will attend the very school where his father once walked the hallowed halls adds a deeply sentimental dimension to the announcement. For William especially, watching his eldest son embark on this journey likely carries a profound sense of personal resonance — a passing of the torch from one generation of the royal family to the next.
The Official Kensington Palace Statement
The formal confirmation came on June 16, when William's office released an official statement that read simply: "Kensington Palace can confirm that Prince George will attend Eton College from this September." While brief, the statement effectively put to rest months of widespread speculation among royal commentators and the British press about where George would continue his education after completing his studies at Lambrook School.
Lambrook, the preparatory school George has attended, caters to students only up to the age of 13. With George turning 13 in July 2025, the timing of his transition to secondary school is entirely in keeping with the standard British educational pathway. The move to Eton represents the natural next step — and, in the context of the royal family, a particularly significant one.
Will Prince George Board at Eton?
Although the Kensington Palace statement did not explicitly address whether George will board at the school, the question is largely answered by Eton's own policies. The college does not typically accept day students; full-time boarding is a core requirement of enrollment. Given that both his father and uncle were boarders, and given the school's long-standing rules, it is widely expected that George will follow the same residential arrangement.
This means that come September, George will be living away from the family's Windsor residence on a regular basis — a significant adjustment for any young person, and particularly notable for a child who has grown up under the unique pressures and protections of royal life. His younger siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, will remain at home and continue their own schooling journeys in the meantime.
What This Means for the Royal Family
George's enrollment at Eton is a reminder of just how quickly the royal family's younger generation is growing up. As the eldest grandchild of the late Queen Elizabeth II and first in line to the throne after his father, George occupies a uniquely prominent position within the monarchy. His educational choices carry symbolic weight that extends well beyond typical parental decisions.
For Prince William and Princess Kate, this moment marks a new chapter — one that involves releasing their eldest child into a wider world, even if that world is only 10 minutes down the road from Windsor. For the British public, it is another chapter in a story they have watched unfold since George's birth in 2013, when the world first caught a glimpse of the boy who would one day be king.
Looking Ahead
As September approaches, all eyes will be on the Wales family as they navigate this fresh milestone. Eton College has shaped some of Britain's most influential figures for nearly six centuries, and it will now shape Prince George — the future King of England. Whether George ultimately thrives in the same corridors where his father once studied remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: his journey to Eton is a royal story that the world will be watching closely.