Why Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis Missed Prince George's First Day at Eton
Prince George has begun a new chapter at Eton, but his first day came with a noticeable family absence.
Prince George is officially an Etonian now, as today marked his first day at the prestigious school. His parents, Prince William and Princess Kate, were there to see their eldest son off on this major milestone. However, his younger siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, were nowhere to be seen.
William and Kate walked with their 13-year-old son across a quadrangle at Eton before the family met with the school’s headmaster and provost. However, George’s first day at Eton looked a little different from his father’s. When William started at the all-boys boarding school in 1995, his younger brother, Prince Harry, was there to see him off. But Charlotte and Louis did not join their big brother for his first day.
There was no official reason given for Charlotte and Louis’ absence, but there is a simple explanation. The 11-year-old princess and her 8-year-old brother are likely getting ready for their own first day back at school, as both are expected to return to the classroom tomorrow.
George’s move to Eton also means the three siblings are going their separate ways at school for the first time in years. Charlotte and Louis are staying at Lambrook, which they joined in 2022 around the time their family relocated to Windsor from London.
Once they arrived, the family was welcomed by Eton headmaster Simon Henderson and the school’s provost, Sir Nicholas Coleridge, in the schoolyard. George kept things fairly casual for the official greeting, wearing “home clothes” before changing into Eton’s instantly recognizable uniform, which was seen in photos released shortly after his arrival.
George will also be following the same traditional dress code his father once did at Eton. His school uniform includes a black tailcoat and waistcoat, pin-striped trousers, and the school’s signature stiff white collar.
Although Eton is George’s first full-time boarding school, he already has some experience with life away from home. William previously shared that his eldest son had done some boarding while at Lambrook. Moreover, Eton is just a short distance from Windsor, where William and Kate live with their three children at Forest Lodge. That means George can still see his family when his school schedule allows.
