George Earned His Eton Place Without Privilege — and It Says A Lot About William's Parenting
It has been reported that the young prince is "over the moon" over his success in getting admitted.
On June 16, 2026, Kensington Palace confirmed that Prince George will attend Eton College starting in September 2026. This announcement ended speculation about his secondary education and aligned with royal tradition, as he follows in the footsteps of his father, Prince William, the Prince of Wales, and his uncle, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex. The decision underscores the commitment of the Prince and Princess of Wales to provide a rigorous academic foundation for their son, who is second in line to the throne. However, Prince George's entry was independent of royal recommendations or acknowledgment of royal legacy.
Prince George, though the future king, received "no special treatment" in his application to Eton College. According to Vanity Fair, George took Eton's entrance exam, like all other applicants, for a school costing approximately $83k annually. He will start attending the prestigious institution in September, following his 13th birthday in July. It has been reported that the young prince is "over the moon" about his admission. "He has been to see the school more than once and loved it. He was very chuffed to be offered a place and is excited about getting fitted for a new uniform," a source told the publication. The source further revealed that the Prince and Princess of Wales have been pleased that their elder son would be engaging in school activities not far away from their Forest Lodge, Windsor home. "He had to sit the exams just like every other applicant, and he is very proud to be starting in September," the source added.
Meanwhile, the Wales family is expected to move to their Norfolk country house, Anmer Hall, once George completes his term of education at Lambrook in early July. According to royal commentator Charlotte Griffiths, they are set to celebrate his upcoming thirteenth birthday. "There will be a leavers' party when George leaves Lambrook, for all the pupils who are leaving the school, and I expect they will go because William and Catherine are quite involved with the school," Griffins highlighted. She also stated that it will be an exciting month for the young heir apparent. Griffins also stated that the Prince of Wales initially strongly advocated that George attend Eton, while the Princess of Wales was more uncertain. Ultimately, it appears that the decision was a joint one, although William's preference for Eton, viewing it as a breeding ground for leaders, was significant.
"William always wanted Eton and thinks it’s the right place for George. It breeds leaders," she said. While speaking about the father-son bonding, Griffin noted that William and George are close, with William ensuring George's preparation. According to Melanie Sanderson, managing editor of The Good Schools Guide, George will have ample privacy and anonymity at Eton. "It’s also a really big school, so it will allow him to be a bit more anonymous there,” Sanderson told The Times.
