Prince George Begins His First Year at Eton College

Prince George has begun a new chapter in his education, arriving at Eton College on Tuesday, September 8, accompanied by his parents, Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales.

The 13-year-old, who is second in line to the British throne, was welcomed to the Berkshire school by head master Simon Henderson and Provost Sir Nicholas Coleridge. Henderson greeted George with a simple message: “Welcome, good luck, enjoy it.”

The arrival marked a significant moment for the young royal, who is beginning his secondary education at one of Britain’s most historic schools. George was dressed in Eton’s traditional smart attire, including a dark blazer, shirt, tie, chinos and brown suede shoes, as he walked with his parents through the school grounds.

Photo: Getty Images

The family arrived from Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park, their nearby home, making the journey to Eton a relatively short one. George’s younger siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, were not present for the occasion and are continuing their education at Lambrook School, where all three children previously studied together.

George’s move to Eton also continues a family tradition. His father attended the school from 1995, while his uncle, Prince Harry, was also educated there. William’s first day was notably more public, with his parents, then Prince Charles and Princess Diana, and Harry accompanying him for photographs as he signed in on September 6, 1995.

Eton’s connection with the royal family stretches beyond the Wales household. Founded by King Henry VI in 1440 and situated close to Windsor Castle, the school has educated numerous prominent figures, including 20 British prime ministers and actors such as Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie. Writers George Orwell and Ian Fleming and adventurer Bear Grylls are also among its former pupils.

Prince George in uniform on his first day at Eton College
Photo: Getty Images

George will attend the all-boys boarding school as a full-time boarder. The school is known for its distinctive traditions, including pupils wearing tailcoats on formal occasions and referring to teachers as “beaks”. Annual fees are reported at approximately £65,000, placing Eton among Britain’s most expensive independent schools.

His arrival also places him at the centre of a very different media landscape from the one his father experienced. Town & Country notes that George is the first future British monarch to begin secondary school in the smartphone and social-media era. Eton has strict photography rules and has introduced basic “brick” phones for pupils, reflecting the wider effort to limit digital distractions and protect students’ privacy.

The school choice had been the subject of considerable interest before George’s enrollment was confirmed. William and Kate were reportedly seen touring Eton with their eldest son in 2023, while other schools, including Marlborough College and Oundle School, had been linked to the family in reports. Eton was ultimately chosen, allowing George to remain close to the Wales family’s Windsor home.

Photo: Getty Images

Kate also brought a familiar piece of her wardrobe to the occasion, wearing a bottle-green Emilia Wickstead midi dress she had previously worn in 2023. She paired it with chocolate-brown heels and a Laura Lombardi chain necklace, reinforcing the Princess of Wales’s well-established preference for reworking pieces from her existing wardrobe rather than treating every public appearance as a new look.

George’s first day at Eton falls on September 8, exactly four years after the death of his great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and the accession of his grandfather, King Charles III. The date therefore carries a particular significance for a young royal whose future role will place him at the centre of the monarchy.

For now, however, George’s immediate milestone is much more personal: settling into a new school, meeting new classmates and beginning life at Eton. His arrival marks the end of his years at Lambrook and the beginning of an education shared, in a distinctly different generation, with both his father and uncle.