Entertainment08 September, 20262 min read
Prince George Begins First Day At Eton College In Berkshire
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Prince George starts first day at Eton College as a boarding student in Berkshire. He is 13 years old and follows his father Prince William's footsteps.
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First day at Eton
Prince George begins his first day at Eton College, taking another step in growing up with his first day at the elite private school in Berkshire. The BBC says the 13-year-old will become a boarder at Eton, which has taught 20 British prime ministers and where fees are around £65,000 a year. ITV News reports George is expected to begin his first day at Eton College, following in the footsteps of his father the Prince of Wales and uncle the Duke of Sussex, who both attended the public school.
“Prince George is taking another step in growing up with his first day at Eton College.”
The BBC also notes George is second in line of succession to the throne as the oldest child of Prince William and Catherine, and it says he is not far from the prince's family home in Windsor. ITV News adds that the family were pictured as the new pupil signed in on September 6 1995, and it describes Eton College as one of the UK’s most prestigious schools with alumni including former prime ministers such as Boris Johnson and David Cameron.
What he can expect
HELLO! Magazine frames the start of George’s Eton term as happening after King Charles’s letter to Harry and Meghan, and it says George is starting at Eton College today where he will spend his next five years.
HELLO! quotes Old Etonian Tom Sykes describing Eton’s layout, writing: "What makes Eton unique is that its buildings are dotted right throughout the town."
Newsweek says George is starting his first day at Eton College today, and it describes the college as taking him from age 13 all the way through to 18 while he boards.
The BBC reports that Eton has 25 boarding houses, with each having approximately 55 pupils, looked after by residential staff headed by a house master.
In the same BBC piece, Melanie Sanderson, the school guide's managing editor, says Eton has "spectacular facilities and spacious grounds" and calls it a modern school with a progressive outlook.
Royal backdrop and context
The coverage of George’s first day is set against a wider royal schedule, with HELLO! saying King Charles reaffirmed Harry and Meghan's status as non-working royals following their return to the UK. HELLO! reports that Lord Benyon added that Harry and Meghan remain private citizens following their move back to Britain on 26 August with their children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five. Sky News says George, 13, was previously at Lambrook School in Berkshire, and it notes he was reportedly seen touring Eton with his parents in 2023, fuelling speculation about the school.
Newsweek says William is due to attend the funeral of King Harald V of Norway in Oslo on Wednesday, placing the Eton start inside a busy week for George’s family. The BBC also recalls that Prince William, interviewed when he was aged 18, said: "I've really enjoyed being able to go about Eton as just another student," linking George’s move to his father’s experience.