Why Prince George is set to have a very different time at Eton than Prince William


Prince George will be attending his father's alma mater in September, but the young prince will likely have a different experience than what Prince William had


Prince George walking with Prince Louis and Prince William© Getty Images
Matthew Moore
Matthew MooreSenior Evening Writer
4 hours ago
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Prince George will be following in his father's footsteps this September when he heads off to continue his education at Eton College.

And in a new piece for the Mail, royal author Robert Jobson has revealed how George's time at the iconic institution will differ significantly than what was experienced by Prince William.

"The difference is everything," he told the publication. "William walked into Eton carrying his parents' marital war. George walks in from a settled home. Two parents, together, who built him a base and guard it fiercely. Confidence is not taught. It is absorbed."

On William's first experience at Eton, he continued: "A boy of thirteen came out with his mother and father to pose for pictures with his housemaster, Dr Andrew Gailey. He had signed the Entrance Book. Charles and Diana stood either side of him. They were separated by then. The divorce was a year away.

"Nobody standing there that morning knew what Gailey, a quiet Ulsterman, a historian, would become to that boy. A rock. Two years after that photocall, Diana was dead, and it was Gailey who took William under his wing, educationally and emotionally, and steadied him. The school became his sanctuary."

Robert added: "Eton will be a challenge, but being close to home, in the shadow of Windsor Castle will help. As he steps out in his tailcoat, false collar, he will look a picture.

Prince William signing the Eton book with King Charles, Princess Diana and Prince Harry looking on© Getty Images
William's parents' marriage was falling apart by the time he joined Eton

"But the environment will protect him like it did his father who thrived there. Then time. A great deal of it, let us hope, for George's sake."

Robert also revealed that George had a keen interest in history, with William even seeking his advice on historical events, and that the young prince was interested in both football and hockey, sports favoured by both of his parents.

George's journey to Eton

It was confirmed last month that George would start attending Eton College, with Kensington Palace saying in a statement: "Kensington Palace can confirm that Prince George will attend Eton College from this September."

Speaking on HELLO!'s A Right Royal Podcast before the decision was announced, The Good Schools' Guide managing editor Melanie Sanderson revealed why the decision makes sense for the family.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Prince George of Cambridge sit in stadium seats, both in suits and ties.© WireImage
George is set to experience major life changes

She said: "You can see Eton College from Windsor Castle. So that would be lovely for George to be able to pop home. And the boys now are allowed a little bit of freedom to pop in and out of school at the weekends, to come home for Sunday lunch or tea on a Saturday evening after their sports fixtures."

According to Eton's website, the young royal will have an incredible 28 subjects to get stuck into, including "nine Modern and Classical Languages". Among the subjects on offer are traditional ones like English literature, mathematics and the three sciences: biology, chemistry and physics.

Melanie Sanderson, managing editor at the Good Schools Guide, said that Prince George could not have made a better choice.

"Eton, above all the other schools, has a breadth that's really unparalleled. All the other public schools have extracurricular opportunities, in theatre and on the sports pitch, but Eton really does take it to another level. Eton very much delivers on the global stage. He will be rubbing shoulders with the children of the great and the good from all around the world.

"He's going to be head of the Church of England one day. Chapel is less of a central feature at a lot of schools than it used to be, but it's still a central part of Eton. William was confirmed at Eton and I would expect George to go down the same path.

"I think a coed school presents some issues that William and Kate may not want to address. They may wish someone to curate the kind of people George is socialising with. I think that's easier in an all-boys environment.

"Eton will have its socials with the lies of Wycombe Abbey, but at the end of the day, they will be back in single-sex classes. For me, it was always the obvious choice. It would have been my top pick as an educational consultant."

The rest of the curriculum consists of Ancient History, Latin, Greek, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic, History (medieval, early modern or modern), History of Art, Geography, Design, Art, Music, Theology, Theatre Studies, Economics, Government and Politics, Music Technology and Computer Science.

However, studying at Eton isn't just about academic prowess, as students are also taught to value the importance of education. Their website explains that sending a student to university without "a love of learning" leaves them "woefully underprepared". It adds: "It is crucial that boys enjoy their studies, thrive and have fun, rather than leave feeling burnt out and disengaged."

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