Full Breakdown
Prince George Begins Boarding at Eton College
9/8/2026, 11:15:32 PM
First Day at Eton
On a Tuesday in early September 2026, 13-year-old Prince George arrived at Eton College in Berkshire with his parents, Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales. Headmaster Simon Henderson and provost Sir Nicholas Coleridge greeted the family before showing George to the fourth-form passage where he will board for the next four years. Photographs released later showed the prince in Eton’s traditional uniform of a black tailcoat, waistcoat, pin-striped trousers and stiff white collar.
Historical and Familial Context
Prince George follows a clear family tradition: his father, Prince William, attended Eton from 1995 to 2000, and his uncle, Prince Harry, from 1998 to 2003. Both have spoken about the school’s role in their upbringing. The decision marks the first time a future monarch will be educated in the era of smartphones and social media, a factor his parents have emphasized when discussing privacy.
School Profile and Statistics
Eton is an all-boys boarding school for ages 13-18, admitting roughly 270 students each academic year and operating 25 boarding houses. The 2025/26 tuition fee is reported as £63,298.80 (? $84,900) by one source and “around £65,000 a year” by another. Notable alumni include 20 of the United Kingdom’s 59 prime ministers and actors Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston.
Privacy Considerations in the Digital Age
Since 2024 Eton has enforced a strict “no photography” policy and provides new students with basic “brick” phones to limit smartphone use. Victoria Murphy, managing editor of *Majesty Magazine*, noted that the royal couple’s track record of protecting their children’s privacy bodes well for George’s next phase of life.
Official Remarks
Headmaster Simon Henderson welcomed George with, “Welcome, good luck, enjoy it.” Prince William reflected on his own experience, saying, “The media have left me alone while I have been at Eton for which I am grateful.” Prince Harry recalled the uniform’s complexity: “I didn’t even know how to get dressed in the morning.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “It's interesting because William and Kate were happy to strike out with something new for their children's nurseries and primary schooling, but with Eton they went with what everyone saw as the traditional choice,” — Victoria Murphy
- “While you could look at that situation as being full of pitfalls, I think that the way that William and Kate have successfully protected their children's privacy so far bodes well for George's next phase of life,” — Victoria Murphy
- “The media have left me alone while I have been at Eton for which I am grateful,” — Prince William
- “I didn’t even know how to get dressed in the morning,” — Prince Harry
- “Every Etonian was required to wear a black tailcoat, white collarless shirt, white stiff collar pinned to the shirt with a stud — plus pinstripe trousers, heavy black shoes and a tie that wasn’t a tie, more like a cloth strip folded into the white detachable collar.” — The Duke
Conflicting Figures on Tuition
One report lists the 2025/26 tuition as £63,298.80, while another describes the annual cost as “around £65,000.” Both figures appear in reputable sources, indicating a lack of consensus on the exact fee amount for the current academic year.
Anticipated Tenure
George will board at Eton for the typical four-year secondary cycle, returning home on designated weekends. The school lies approximately 15 miles from the family’s Windsor residence, allowing regular family visits and parental attendance at school events.
