Prince George’s First Day at Eton Revealed — And It’s Set to Be Very Different From William’s
In a matter of days, Prince George of Wales will begin high school at Eton College, where his father the Prince of Wales and uncle Prince Harry went years before.
But the 13-year-old’s first day is likely to unfold very differently from William’s nearly 30 years ago, and Harry’s three years later.
Prince William arrived at Eton College on September 6, 1995 with his parents, the now King Charles and Diana, the late Princess of Wales, and brother Prince Harry. AP
Confirmation of Prince George’s choice of high school was announced by the Prince and Princess of Wales in June, following years of speculation as to where the future king would go once he finished at Lambrook School.
Eton was always the frontrunner as Prince William and Prince Harry were former students, as was their uncle Earl Spencer, brother to the late Princess of Wales, in addition to local and foreign royalty, 20 British prime ministers, entertainment greats and legendary authors.
Prince William was accompanied by his parents, the then-Prince Charles and Princess Diana, to the elite boarding school on September 6, 1995 when he signed the school’s register.
Walking alongside his mother and father, and younger brother, Prince William appeared shy and slightly nervous as he was given a brief tour of the school.
Outside, a wall of photographers, camera operators and journalists were lined up behind a security barricade, standing across five levels of tiered rows of metal benches, ready to capture William’s first hours at Eton.
They were positioned outside of Manor House, where William was to stay as a boarder.
His first full day at Eton came on September 7, when he was photographed in his traditional uniform, which remains the same today − a black tailcoat, waistcoat, pinstriped trousers, stiff white collar and a white tie.
Similar scenes were repeated when Prince Harry started there in September 1998.
Prince George, pictured here in an official portrait shared for his 13th birthday in July, will start at Eton College within days. Prince and Princess of Wales
To protect the privacy of both his sons during their school years, Charles and Buckingham Palace had struck a deal with the press to leave the boys alone, in return for limited access to them at various photocalls, satisfying the near insatiable appetite for stories about the royal teenagers.
As parents, Prince William and Catherine have followed a similar method in how they give the media access to their three children including Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, eight, with some key differences.
Catherine, a talented photographer, has broken with tradition by sharing photos she takes of her children to mark important milestones, such as their birthdays. At other times, a trusted photographer chosen by the couple has been there to capture family moments instead of dozens of members of the press.
Throughout George’s childhood, William and Catherine have been re-writing the parenting playbook and doing things their own way, mixing modernity and tradition to ensure the children grow up with the right blend of duty and normalcy.
Crown Duels: The roles of George, Charlotte and Louis under King William’s reign
There has been more privacy, more time spent at home, together, and less time at official engagements for William and Catherine as they prioritise their children, and the school pick up and drop off, over public-facing events.
At times, they’ve been criticised for doing so, but William and Catherine know they must have strict boundaries to benefit their children.
That means they’ll do all they can to ensure George’s first day at high school is as normal as possible, for him and his fellow pupils, by limiting the media pack to a few selected journalists and cameras.
Princess Charlotte’s first day at Thomas’s Battersea, seen here on September 5, 2019, was covered by a small press group to protect the children from the media spectacle William and Harry endured. Getty
When George started at Thomas’s Battersea, in London, aged four, he was driven there by Prince William only; Catherine had missed the occasion because she was suffering from severe morning sickness while pregnant with her third child.
The prince’s first day of school was covered by a small group of media only, owing to his young age.
Similarly, when the three Wales children started at Lambrook School, in Windsor, together in 2022, photos were handed out to the wider press by Kensington Palace.
When the Wales children began at Lambrook School in September 2022, a few photos of the milestone were handed out to the media instead of the children facing a wall of photographers. Getty
While George is accustomed to the media circus by now, his parents continue to protect him, where possible.
Already, George’s childhood has been very different from his father’s and as he begins at Eton, William and Catherine will be determined more than ever to protect their son as he navigates a world neither of them had to deal with.
The prevalence of social media and artificial intelligence (AI) could see the young prince faced with less freedoms than what William and Harry had at Eton. The brothers were often seen enjoying student life in town and once they were a little older, they were regulars at various pubs and nightclubs around Windsor and London. Their exploits did make the tabloids, but they didn’t have to deal with members of the public filming or photographing them.
George’s childhood has been different to his father’s, but he will have to navigate his high school years in an era of smartphones and AI. PA
While Prince George will be protected within the school grounds, once he steps off campus and into the small touristy town of Eton, and nearby Windsor, during his free time he is fair game with nothing really stopping anyone with a camera phone from filming him.
“No photography” warning signs were erected on fences around Eton College in August as the town prepared to welcome the future king of England. They were put up to warn visitors to respect the privacy of the students, royal or not.
Whether they will stop people from pulling out their phone if they see the prince is another thing.
The school’s campus is spread throughout the small town of Eton, and pupils are regularly seen walking around making their way to and from classes.
Eton is located in a popular tourist town, close to Windsor and its students are often seen walking around in their uniforms. Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan, who returned to Britain last week for what has been described as an “extended stay”, are likely dealing with similar issues as their two children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet start school.
Archie and Lilibet’s first day will not involve an official photo opportunity like their cousin George’s, as the Sussexes are private citizens.
However, those with children in the area of the Cotswolds where Harry and Meghan now live have been sent warning letters reminding “parents and carers not to photograph or film other children without permission, or share photographs, information or details about pupils or their families on social media”, it was claimed on Wednesday.
Prince Harry is facing similar privacy concerns as his two children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet start at their British school. Instagram/@Meghan
Advertisement
And unlike Prince George, Archie and Lilibet will not be protected by taxpayer-funded police protection officers. Instead, the Sussexes are relying on unarmed private bodyguards.
Eton does not allow smartphones for students in George’s year group, only the so-called brick phones, which William recently said he and Catherine would allow their eldest son to have once he started high school.
While George will be physically protected by a small team of police officers on campus, his privacy could be harder to guard in this modern, digital age thanks to the prevalence of camera phones and citizen journalism.
What we know so far: Royal reporter breaks down Prince Harry and Meghan’s move
His movements could be made public within seconds on social media, something William and Harry never had to deal with when they were in high school.
Prince George will be the first British heir to the throne to navigate his teenage years in the era of smartphones, social media and AI. Other heirs from nearby European monarchies have already dealt with this − Denmark, Norway, Spain and the Netherlands − mostly with little scandal.
Prince William, and Catherine, of course, are well-prepared for this new era of social media and the challenges that come with it and will have arrangements in place to protect their son. They will continue to choose their friends wisely, favouring those who are loyal and discreet.
William’s time at Eton, from 1995-2000, was a turbulent period including the divorce of his parents and the death of his mother, Diana. AP
Advertisement
At Eton, William forged lifelong friendships who have become key members of his tight inner circle to this day. William knows George will need bonds like these, too, when he’s older and facing the very unique, and often lonely, role as head of state.
Let’s just hope George’s friends, and other classmates, will allow him to make the same mistakes we all did during our school days, and give the prince the freedom to be himself as he navigates the esteemed halls of Eton and his first few months of high school.
