5 Childhood Photos of Harry and William at Eton That Show Life Will Be Hard for George

Starting a new school can be a daunting experience for any teenager, especially more than ever when you’re the future king. Kensington Palace recently confirmed Prince George will attend Eton College from September 2026. He will be continuing the tradition, following the footsteps of both Prince William and Prince Harry. While the prestigious school is known for producing generations of royals, a look back at William and Harry’s years there suggests George’s transition may come with challenges of its own. Be it independence, academics, or royal scrutiny, to strict discipline. 

One of George’s biggest adjustments in Eton will be spending more time away from his close-knit Wales family. Things weren’t so different for William either when he started his year at Eton. The Prince and Princess of Wales have become known for their hands-on parenting style, personally handling many aspects of their children's daily lives. Although Eton is only around 12 minutes from the family's Windsor home, the move marks a major step toward independence. Unlike his old school, Lambrook, George will increasingly be expected to find his way through situations on his own, much as William and Harry did before him.

That independence may also mean having difficult conversations with his future classmates. As the grandson of King Charles and nephew of Prince Harry, George will arrive at Eton carrying the weight of one of the world's most famous families. With ongoing headlines involving Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and many more royal controversies, George could face questions from peers that previous generations of royals largely avoided. William and Harry both learned how to handle public curiosity during their school years, especially when their parents’ marriage was falling apart, and George may have to develop the same resilience.

In terms of academics, Eton is known for its demanding standards. According to the Daily Mail, George had to sit for entrance examinations before securing his place. Back when he was growing up, William flourished at the school, leaving with 12 GCSEs and three A-levels at Eton before earning a place at the University of St Andrews. However, Harry's experience was shockingly different. As he wrote in his memoir Spare, he described arriving at Eton as “a profound shock” and admitted, "I didn't even know how to get dressed in the morning. I was in way, way over my head." George will now face the same rigorous academic expectations.

Lucky for George, sport may help ease the transition. During a recent interview with TIME after being named among the publication's 100 most influential people in sports, Prince Harry reflected on his own school years and said, "Sport held me together. I was one of those kids at school who did not enjoy classroom work. 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." George already shares his family's passion for athletics, with William and Kate previously revealing their son enjoys both soccer and tennis.

Apart from academics and sports, Eton is also known for its traditions and discipline. Harry recalled in Spare how boarding school life required students not only to follow routines but also to manage their own responsibilities, all while adapting to a structured environment. There was a major contrast between William, who became a prefect and was highly integrated into school life, and Harry, who found it harder to settle in. Hence, as George gears up to begin his own Eton chapter, he will enter a world that helped shape two very different royal journeys and may shape his future in equally significant ways.