After much speculation about where Prince George will continue his education, a new report claims that he’ll follow in dad Prince William’s footsteps at the Prince of Wales’ alma mater, Eton College.
After Prince William and Kate Middleton explored a variety of options for their eldest son, who will turn 12 on July 22, a source tells the Mail on Sunday that “all roads lead to Eton.”
According to the outlet, insiders say there’s a “smugness” about the pending announcement from the prestigious boys-only school: “It was like: ‘I know something, and the people at Eton know something, but I’m not going to tell you.’ “
Prince George was spotted visiting Eton with his parents in 2023, further fueling speculation that it was a top contender for the future king, currently second in the line of succession.
Even without an official announcement on George’s schooling, the decision has likely already been made. Although Eton College students are between the ages of 13 and 18, they must be registered before June 30 of the school year when the boy turns 10. According to the school’s website, “After this, the only route of entry will be through scholarships or Sixth Form entry, which open in Year 8 (for Year 9 entry) and Year 11 (for Sixth Form entry).”
READ: Prince Louis Breaks Tradition At Trooping The Colour – And Here’s Why
Eton has a history with the royal family, with both Prince William and Prince Harry attending as teenagers. When William enrolled in 1995, he became the first senior royal to attend the school. However, he did have alumni in the family, as both Princess Diana’s brother and father were pupils there.
Some of Queen Elizabeth’s first cousins — including the Duke of Kent, the Duke of Gloucester and Prince Michael of Kent — also attended Eton.
Eton College’s fees are over $70,000 per year. According to the school’s website, that price covers “tuition, board, lodging and the cost of most games activities and the majority of educational materials. In addition, boys incur variable extras, e.g. charges for music lessons, optional insurances, boat club membership and school trips.”
Although Eton College is a boarding school, it’s located just a short drive from the Prince and Princess of Wales’ family home in Windsor, Adelaide Cottage. Therefore, Prince George will easily be able to visit with his parents and siblings, 10-year-old Princess Charlotte and 7-year-old Prince Louis— just like William regularly had Sunday lunches with his grandmother Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle during his enrollment at Eton.
Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis currently attend Lambrook School together. Should the Eton College rumors be true, Louis may also attend like George. However, Charlotte won’t be able to join her brothers at the all-boys school.
It’s possible that Princess Charlotte will follow in Princess Kate’s educational path at the co-ed Marlborough College in a few years.
Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis recently joined their parents and members of the royal family at Trooping the Colour, the birthday parade celebrating King Charles, on June 14. However, the royal siblings largely stay out of the public eye — a conscious choice by Prince William and Princess Kate.
“It’s a massive balancing act,” one palace insider previously told PEOPLE about raising George. “William and Kate are doing the right thing, protecting him so he can have as normal a childhood as possible, but he’s also dipping into duties as a future monarch.”
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