Prince George will attend Eton in September, Kensington Palace has announced (Image: Getty)

The Prince and Princess of Wales have just announced that their eldest son Prince George will attend Eton in the autumn. A short statement read: “Kensington Palace can confirm that Prince George will attend Eton College from this September.”
The long-awaited news comes just before their three children are due to break up for the summer. But the Daily Express can exclusively reveal that the royal parents had made the decision six months earlier, in January.

A royal insider said: “Prince George is really looking forward to going to Eton. They settled the decision in January but mum and dad wanted to wait a little longer before it was officially announced.” William and Catherine are keen to safeguard their children’s privacy despite their public roles.

But the insider said it wasn’t an easy decision to make, as the Wales family had also been considering Marlborough College, the Wiltshire co-educational boarding school where Catherine excelled.

It was a two-horse race between William and Catherine’s alma mater, with the future Queen keen for the children to study alongside one another, just as she did with her sister Pippa and brother James at Marlborough.

But Eton’s close proximity to the family home in Windsor appears to have been the deciding factor.

“The decision wasn’t just about George, they had to factor in Charlotte and Louis as well,” the source said. “But ultimately they wanted him to stay near the family.”

They added: “William is thrilled that his son wanted to follow in his footsteps. He’s incredibly proud.”

William and Catherine moved to Forest Lodge on the Windsor Estate in November, with the eight-bedroom Georgian mansion being described as their new “forever home”.

The move was a fresh start for the family, following the challenges of the past few years, namely the princess’ cancer diagnosis and treatment programme.

But now she is in remission and returned to royal duties, the couple are focused firmly on the future and making new memories as a family of five.

George, Charlotte and Louis are “the centre of their universe” as one source described, and though the future king and queen are committed to their roles, being present and hands on in raising their children is paramount.

Enrolling their eldest in a school that is just a stone’s throw away from home means the family can continue to spend precious time together