Prince George, second in line to the British throne, will attend Eton College for secondary school starting this September, Kensington Palace confirmed after months of speculation. The Prince and Princess of Wales's eldest son will follow his father's footsteps to the £63,000-a-year all-boys school, a 12-minute drive from their Forest Lodge home in Windsor.
Eton wasn't always a certainty; rumors suggested William and Kate considered Marlborough College, Kate's alma mater. However, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond explained that Eton's proximity and William's positive experience there made it a logical choice.
“I'm not surprised that Eton has been chosen,” Bond told the Mirror. “William and Catherine fervently believe that Eton, in the shadow of Windsor Castle and so close to their family home, is where their son will feel safe and secure.” She added that the couple researched thoroughly and included George in discussions.
William attended Eton from 1995 to 2000, boarding at Manor House, and thrived there, as did other royals and 20 British prime ministers. Bond noted, “Eton is a world William knows well. It saw him through some of the most difficult days of his life, with his parents' failing marriage and the death of Diana. The school was his haven.”
George will likely enjoy similar experiences, including Sunday teas with his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, as William did. Bond emphasized that the school's proximity allows frequent family contact.
Despite William's modernizing image, Bond argued that George's education isn't about image but his happiness and safety. “There will be other ways to show George that many people live in great hardship. I've no doubt his parents will continue to ensure he has some experience of life outside the gilded cage,” she said.
