Prince George to Face a Tough Eton Tradition on His Very First Day at School
The future king's first day at Eton won't be all introductions — one long-standing tradition awaits him before classes begin.
Prince George’s first day of school might not be the same as yours, as Eton has a test that he needs to pass with flying colors. King Henry VI founded the prestigious all-boys school in 1440, where his father, Prince William, and uncle, Prince Harry, were also alumni, among many others.
Starting at Eton this September, George will not just be settling into a new school. As per PEOPLE, the future king, who will have turned 13 by then, is expected to take on the school's traditional "colours test" on his very first day, where new students are quizzed on the official colors of Eton's 25 boarding houses and the locations of its key buildings.
Writer Hugo Vickers, who is also an Eton alumnus, told The Times, “Hardly had you arrived than you faced a colour test. You had to learn all the house colours and various archaic Eton names for a test by 'the library.' I irritated one questioner by knowing where the sheep dip was. He thought he could catch me out.” Eton College houses its students across 25 boarding houses, each accommodating about 55 boys, with around 11 from every year group. Every student is also given a room of their own. If tradition continues, George will likely call Manor House home during his time at Eton. The boarding house was also where Prince William and Prince Harry lived.
The College explains, “The 25 Boarding Houses at Eton are the same but different. They are all caring communities that put kindness and empathy at the heart of their ethos. In turn, this allows boys to develop a strong understanding of themselves and their capabilities within a safe, tolerant, and understanding environment.”
The colors test is only one of Eton's many long-standing traditions. The school even has its own unique vocabulary, with teachers known as "beaks" and poor academic work earning students "rips." Those who arrive late are entered into the "Tardy Book," while breaking school rules can land a student on "the Bill," a step that comes before disciplinary action. According to Hello!, punishments have included copying hundreds of lines of Latin poetry or carrying out unpaid chores, such as weeding a housemaster's garden.
George is also expected to tick off another Eton tradition by signing the school's registration book, just as William did back in 1995. Like every other student, he will also wear Eton's signature "tails" uniform, made up of a black tailcoat, waistcoat, pinstriped trousers, and a stiff white collar.
Despite his royal status, George reportedly received no special treatment during the Eton admissions process. According to Vanity Fair, he took the school's entrance exam just like every other applicant before securing a place at the prestigious college, where annual fees are around $83,000.
