Princess Diana’s Butler Reveals Why She Was Against Harry Attending Eton — Even Though William Did
It’s no secret that Princess Diana was fiercely protective of her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. She wanted them to have as normal a childhood as possible before they grew up to fulfil their royal roles. Additionally, she was particularly watchful that Harry never felt left out with William being the heir to the throne. So she ensured they wore the same clothes and had the same experiences. That’s why it might come as a surprise to some that Diana was not in favor of Harry attending Eton College, the prestigious school his brother thrived at.
According to the Daily Express, Paul Burrell, Diana’s former royal butler, claimed that she had serious concerns about Harry attending Eton, despite it being tradition for royal family members and aristocrats. Burrell said Diana was afraid Harry would be "constantly compared to William and judged by William’s standards.” William reportedly excelled at Eton and was more academic, whereas Harry had different strengths. The source explained, “William is much brighter, and he excelled; Harry wasn’t and didn’t. And so, she knew it would be a difficult path for Harry.”
Years later, in his bestselling memoir Spare, Harry opened up about how, as Diana had predicted, he had a difficult time at Eton. He revealed that William made it clear that Harry was not welcome in his world, even though they were attending the same school, reported Hello! magazine. “You don’t know me, Harold. And I don’t know you,” Harry recalls William having once said during their first days at school. Harry promised to avoid him completely, saying, “I will forget I know you.” In a 2023 interview with Anderson Cooper, Harry revisited that painful chapter in his life, admitting, “At the time, it hurt. I couldn’t make sense of it.”
He added that William wanted to build his independence, something many older siblings desire, but Harry still took the rejection personally. While William made friends and succeeded academically, Harry struggled to fit in. As per his memoir, the student groups were divided; those who preferred land sports like rugby were called 'dry bobs,' and those who rowed or swam were 'wet bobs.'
Harry said he was a "dry who occasionally got wet," never fully finding his place. Though he poured himself into rugby and described it as an outlet for his emotions, it didn’t solve the deeper challenges he was facing. Unlike Harry, William reportedly enjoyed his time at Eton. The Prince of Wales is even said to be considering sending Prince George to the same school. William and Princess Kate were seen visiting the school with George in 2023, as reported by People magazine, fuelling speculation he may follow in his father’s footsteps.