Royal Expert Reveals the ‘Biggest Challenge’ George Will Face at Eton—That Prince William Didn’t
When Prince George starts at Eton College this year, he’ll face a modern challenge even Prince William never had to contend with.
2026 will be a big year for Prince George. The young royal has not only officially entered his teenage years but will also start his secondary education at Eton College. His father, Prince William, and uncle, Prince Harry, are both alumni of the prestigious institution. Yet George will face far different challenges than they did when he begins his academic year.
Although media intrusion was at its peak when William and Harry studied at Eton, social media has added a whole new dimension to George’s upcoming experience. “So much has changed since William and Harry attended. Poor George has so much more to be wary of, especially with social media, but he is ready and looking forward to it,” a palace source told Woman’s Day.
While George has reportedly been advised to weed out “fake friends," royal commentator Kinsey Schofield noted that his primary struggle will be protecting his privacy. “The biggest challenge won’t be academics or making friends. It’ll be balancing Prince George’s privacy with the reality that every classmate has TikTok,” she observed. Despite the expected hurdles, the young prince seems well-prepared. As the source added, “George is a smart young boy who knows what to look out for and what to do if he ever feels unsafe."
The 13-year-old will draw plenty of strength and support from his parents, William and Kate, as he begins this new chapter. A source claimed that the parents of three have created a safe environment at home for their children to voice their opinions: “Nothing is off-limits in the Wales household. They speak openly about everything, especially when it comes to protecting the children and giving them the skills and knowledge they need.”
Beyond that, the Prince and Princess of Wales have worked hard to smooth this transition for their son. The young prince reportedly already knows several of his future classmates. “That certainly helps, and William and Catherine have also gotten to know their parents, so they feel much more comfortable about it all,” the source added. Since Eton is a boarding school, George has already begun preparing by boarding weekly at Lambrook School.
Reportedly, first-year Eton students are not allowed to carry smartphones on campus. They can only use brick phones, and George will also be given one. A source mentioned that it will be provided to him “mainly” for “family contact and emergencies."
