Prince George has been pictured in his new school uniform for the first time as he begins a new era at Eton College.
The future King, 13, beamed in the photo, shared on Tuesday to mark his first day at the prestigious £63,298-a-year school in Windsor, after arriving with his proud parents, Prince William and Kate.
As noted by HELLO!'s Royal Editor, Emily Nash, the young royal wore Eton's very traditional uniform, including a tilcoat, winged collars and white tie.
© Kensington PalaceGeorge is following in the footsteps of his father, Prince William, who began his own time at the school 31 years ago.
His big day also falls on the fourth anniversary of the death of the late Queen Elizabeth at Balmoral Castle in 2022.
© Kensington PalaceEmily says: "Today’s new start falls on the fourth anniversary of the late Queen’s death and will no doubt bring back fond memories for William, of visiting his grandparents Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, just across the Thames at Windsor Castle."
© Kensington PalacePrince George's rainy arrival at Eton
Prince George arrived at Eton on Tuesday morning, alongside Prince William and Kate.
Emily noted: "Arriving with his parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the 13-year-old future king wore his own clothes, and smiled as he shook hands with headmaster Simon Henderson before going inside."
The Princess of Wales, wearing a bottle green dress from Emilia Wickstead and black heels, held an umbrella as she sheltered her son and walked through the school's famous archway.
Amid heavy rain, George and his parents arrived in School Yard, the Berkshire institution’s historic quadrangle overlooked by Lupton’s Tower, a Tudor landmark, and at its centre was a statue of King Henry VI, who founded Eton in 1440.
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesThey walked across the square towards Eton’s head master Simon Henderson and the provost Sir Nicholas Coleridge. William carried a folded umbrella, and George stood between his parents.
The group chatted for a few moments, and Simon was overheard telling George: “Welcome, good luck, enjoy it”.
They then walked through a doorway into one of the oldest parts of Eton, and Kate was seen to put her hand on her son’s back.
Looking back at Prince William's first day at Eton College
The press were allowed to record William’s first day at Eton with his parents Charles and Diana, the then Prince and Princess of Wales, and brother Harry, with the family pictured as the new pupil signed in on 6 September 1995.
© Getty ImagesWilliam wore a jacket and a tie as he signed the school register in front of the media.
After that, there was an agreement between the royal family and the media that while the young Prince was at the school, he would be free from intrusion in exchange for regular updates about his life.
© GettyHELLO!'s royal editor Emily Nash comments: "William and Catherine hope that after sharing a glimpse of this major moment in their eldest son’s journey, he will be left alone to enjoy school without intrusion.
"For William, Eton was a haven during some of the most challenging periods of his childhood, and he is confident that it will be a supportive, nurturing environment for George too."
© GettyWilliam resided at Manor House during his time at Eton, which has been used as a boarding house since at least 1723. He left the school in 2000 with an A in Geography, B in history of art, and C in biology for his A-levels, enrolling at St Andrews University, where he met his future wife, Princess Kate.
Prince George's education up to now
The young prince has just left Lambrook School, the private prep school in Berkshire, which is also attended by his siblings Princess Charlotte, 11, and eight-year-old Prince Louis.
© Getty ImagesFor nursery, he attended Westacre Montessori School in Norfolk, before starting at St Thomas's Battersea in 2017.
In June, it was revealed George would be attending Eton. In a statement, Kensington Palace said: "Kensington Palace can confirm that Prince George will attend Eton College from this September."
What can George expect from his time at Eton?
Eton College is one of the most famous and prestigious schools in the world and has a reputation for instilling self-reliance and leadership, as students have to fulfil many non-academic tasks.
It offers 28 subjects, including nine modern and classical languages.
© Corbis via Getty ImagesAdmission is rigorous, with the boys going through stringent tests, and parents pay an annual fee of £63,298.
Its roll call of famous past pupils includes actors Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie and Eddie Redmayne, a large number of prime ministers including Lord David Cameron, writers George Orwell and Ian Fleming, and adventurer Bear Grylls.
Eton is a full boarding school with no day or weekly students. Each boy has their own room in one of the 25 boarding houses.
However, George won't be far from his parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, who live at the eight-bedroom Forest Lodge, also in Windsor.
© Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty ImagesMelanie Sanderson, the managing editor of the Good Schools guide, previously told HELLO!: "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."
Where did the other members of the royal family attend school?
The King went to Gordonstoun, a school in the Scottish Highlands attended by his father, the late Duke of Edinburgh, and he told biographer Jonathan Dimbleby his time there was “a prison sentence” – but instilled self-discipline and a sense of responsibility.
© Hulton DeutschHis younger brothers, Prince Edward and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, also attended Gordonstoun, while Princess Anne attended Benenden School, leaving with six GCE O-levels and three A-levels.
Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, who recently married Harriet Sperling, both attended Gordonstoun. However, Princess Diana's brother and father both attended Eton.
Like the Princess of Wales, Princess Eugenie boarded at Marlborough College. Her older sister, Princess Beatrice, went to St George's. Queen Elizabeth and her sister, Princess Margaret, meanwhile, were educated at home by Marion Crawford.
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