Prince George has begun his first day at Eton College at 13, starting a new chapter of his education at the prestigious Berkshire boarding school attended by his father, Prince William, and uncle Prince Harry.
Accompanied by William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, George arrived at the school on Tuesday and was welcomed by headmaster Simon Henderson and provost Sir Nicholas Coleridge. The future king will now become a boarder at a school where annual fees for the 2025/26 academic year are £63,298.80 and where pupils live across 25 boarding houses.
Fact table immediately after:
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Student | Prince George |
| Age | 13 |
| First day | September 8, 2026 |
| School | Eton College |
| Location | Berkshire, England |
| Status | Second in line to the British throne |
| Parents at arrival | Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales |
| Boarding | Yes. |
| Current annual fee | £63,298.80 |
| Boarding houses | 25 |
| Typical age range | 13–18 |
| Head Master | Simon Henderson |
| Provost | Sir Nicholas Coleridge |
| Previous school | Lambrook School |
| Father at Eton | Prince William, 1995–2000 |
| Uncle at Eton | Prince Harry, from 1998 |
Prince George Biography: Age, Family, Education, Parents, and Life Story
The arrival marks a significant step for George, who is second in line to the British throne and is being educated at one of the UK’s best-known independent schools.
His first day also carries a strong family connection. William attended Eton from 1995, while Harry began there in 1998. George has therefore followed a path already taken by two of the most prominent members of the modern royal family.
Prince George Arrives at Eton With William and Kate
George arrived on a rainy morning accompanied by both of his parents.
William and Catherine were seen walking with their son as he approached the historic school. George wore a jacket and tie and appeared in good spirits despite the gloomy weather.
At the entrance, he was greeted by head master Simon Henderson and provost Sir Nicholas Coleridge.
The brief welcome was informal but significant. Henderson shook George’s hand and wished him well before the new pupil, his parents and members of staff went inside.
George will now begin life at Eton as a full-time boarder, rather than simply attending classes during the day.
Why Prince George Is Going to Eton
George’s choice of secondary school had attracted considerable interest before Kensington Palace confirmed his destination.
After completing his education at Lambrook School in Berkshire, where he studied alongside his younger siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, several prestigious independent schools were considered in public speculation.
The eventual decision was a traditional one.
Eton gives George the same educational experience his father received and also connects him with a long line of prominent British figures who studied there.
For the Prince and Princess of Wales, however, the decision is not simply about tradition.
George’s future will be unusually different from that of most 13-year-olds. As the second person in the line of succession, his education is likely to be viewed partly through the demands of his eventual public role.
What Is Eton College Like?
Eton College is a historic private boarding school in Berkshire, England, not far from the Wales family’s home in Windsor.
The school educates boys from 13 to 18.
Around 270 new students are accepted each academic year, while pupils live in the school’s 25 boarding houses.
Each house has approximately 55 students and is overseen by a house master, supported by residential staff.
That means George’s school experience will be structured around boarding life as well as classroom education.
Rather than returning home every afternoon, he will live within the school’s residential system alongside other pupils.
How Much Does Eton Cost?
Eton is one of Britain’s most expensive and prestigious fee-paying schools.
For the 2025/26 academic year, the published fee cited in reports is £63,298.80, equivalent to roughly $84,900.
That figure has made the cost of George’s education one of the most eye-catching details surrounding his move to Eton.
The school’s reputation, however, extends beyond its fees.
Eton has educated generations of influential figures in British public life, including 20 of Britain’s 59 prime ministers.
Among its former pupils are former prime ministers David Cameron and Boris Johnson.
Its alumni also include actors such as Eddie Redmayne, Hugh Laurie, Tom Hiddleston, Dominic West and Damian Lewis.
Prince George Is Continuing a Royal Eton Tradition
George is not the first future king to enter Eton.
His father, Prince William, arrived at the school in 1995. Prince Harry followed three years later.
George’s wider family connection to the school also extends beyond his immediate household, with his great-uncle Earl Spencer having attended Eton as well.
William’s own experience offers an interesting perspective on what George may gain from the school.
As a teenager, William later described enjoying the opportunity to experience Eton as an ordinary student.
That possibility could be particularly valuable for George.
Although he is already one of the world’s most recognizable children, boarding at Eton may provide a more protected environment in which he can develop away from the constant public attention surrounding the royal family.
Why Boarding Could Matter for George
George’s move to boarding school comes at an unusual point in his life.
For most 13-year-olds, entering secondary school represents a major transition. For George, that transition takes place alongside the knowledge that he is expected to become king one day.
His parents have therefore chosen a school where he can experience a relatively structured and residential education while remaining close to his family home in Windsor.
The school’s boarding houses are designed around small residential communities, with approximately 55 pupils in each house.
For George, that means his daily life will involve classmates, house staff and the routines of boarding school rather than the public-facing schedule associated with royal engagements.
Eton’s Approach to Education
Despite its historic reputation and centuries-old buildings, Eton has also been described as a modern school with a progressive outlook.
That combination is relevant to George’s education.
He is being prepared for a future that will look very different from the one faced by previous generations of British monarchs.
His parents have considerable choice when it comes to education, but the decision to send him to Eton suggests they believe the school’s combination of tradition, academic environment and residential life can provide useful preparation for his eventual responsibilities.
Prince George’s Education Before Eton
Before arriving at Eton, George attended Lambrook School, a private preparatory school near Windsor.
He attended alongside Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
The move to Eton therefore represents more than a change of school. It is also the point at which George begins a more independent stage of his education.
Unlike his prep-school years, his next chapter will include living away from the family home during term time.
What George’s Eton Years Could Mean for the Future King
George’s education is inevitably viewed through the lens of his future position.
He is currently second in line to the throne, behind his father, Prince William.
That makes ordinary milestones—choosing a school, making friends, joining activities and living in a boarding house—different from those experienced by most children his age.
Yet Eton may offer him precisely the kind of environment where he can experience some degree of normal teenage life.
The school has a long tradition of educating students who later enter politics, public service, business, entertainment and other prominent fields.
George’s own path will ultimately be very different.
Prince George’s First Day Echoes His Father’s
The similarities between George’s arrival and the earlier arrivals of William and Harry are difficult to miss.
William was photographed arriving at Eton in 1995, while Harry began at the school in 1998.
Both experienced the transition from the royal household to one of Britain’s most famous boarding schools.
Now George has begun the same chapter.
For the young prince, however, the stakes are arguably even more visible because he is the direct heir’s eldest son and is currently next in line after his father.
A New Chapter for the Future King
George’s first day at Eton is ultimately a school story, but it also marks an important moment in the life of a future monarch.
At 13, he has moved from preparatory education at Lambrook to one of Britain’s most prominent boarding schools.
He will live in one of Eton’s 25 boarding houses, study alongside other pupils his age and begin a new level of independence.
At the same time, his education will continue under an extraordinary level of public interest.
For now, the focus is simply on a teenager starting school.
But unlike most pupils arriving at Eton, George is also preparing for a future in which his name is already part of Britain’s line of succession.
