Prince George 'Wants to Follow in His Dad’s Footsteps': Inside His Road to Eton (Exclusive)
Prince George 'Wants to Follow in His Dad’s Footsteps': Inside His Road to Eton (Exclusive)
Erin Hill, Monique JessenThu, June 25, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTC
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Right: Prince William and Prince George on April 5, 2026 -
Prince George will attend Eton College this fall, following in Prince William’s footsteps at the prestigious boarding school
A source close to the family tells PEOPLE in this week's cover story: “George has always wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps"
Eton’s proximity to Windsor allows George to board while maintaining close family ties, a balance William valued during his time there
Thirty years after then-13-year-old Prince William arrived at Eton College with his mother, Princess Diana, by his side, he’s preparing for the journey again—this time as a father.
On June 16, Kensington Palace confirmed that Prince George will attend the prestigious all-boys boarding school near Windsor this fall, ending years of speculation over where Prince William and Kate Middleton would send their oldest son, who turns 13 on July 22. Many royal watchers expected the couple to choose a more modern educational path; they ultimately opted for the school that helped shape William.
“Eton was a much-needed haven for William,” royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith tells PEOPLE in this week's cover story. "It will give George a rigorous education that he will need for his role."
Prince George and Prince William attend a soccer game on April 9, 2025Credit: Pierre Suu/Getty
George toured Eton with his parents before his 10th birthday in 2023, around the time prospective students traditionally register, making the school a front-runner for the future King.
Even so, the decision carried added intrigue because of the way William and Kate, both 44, have chosen to raise their family. The Prince and Princess of Wales have spent years working to give Prince George, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, 8, as normal an upbringing as possible, moving from London to Windsor and largely keeping their children out of the spotlight.
“They have been very careful not to pressure any of them to appear on the public stage too often,” Queen Elizabeth’s former press secretary Ailsa Anderson tells PEOPLE. “It’s been a gentle introduction to royal life, which has let Prince George build his confidence.”
Credit: Prince George
As a result, some wondered whether they might choose a coeducational school such as Marlborough College, Kate’s alma mater (which they toured twice), allowing George to remain alongside Charlotte and Louis after the siblings’ years together at Lambrook. Instead, the couple chose a school steeped in both royal history and personal significance.
"Both William and Catherine carried out a lot of research to make the right decision,” says Anderson.
Plus, a source close to the family tells PEOPLE, “George has always wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps."
Prince William and Prince George on July 13, 2025 at WimbledonCredit: Stephen Lock/i-Images via ZUMA Press
Founded in 1440 by King Henry VI, Eton costs about $80,000 a year and has educated generations of leaders, including 20 prime ministers. Prince Harry, 41, also attended the school, where his experience differed markedly from Prince William’s. Come September, George will become the latest royal to don Eton’s iconic black tailcoat, waistcoat and pin-striped trousers.
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"Yes, Eton stands for tradition, but it has moved with the times and now has a more diverse student body than it had—even in William’s day,” says Bedell Smith. “I think their decision hinges on the school’s academic excellence and the many ways it develops its students for leadership roles."
Prince William at Eton College on Sept. 7, 1995Credit: Antony Jones/UK Press via Getty
Eton’s appeal to Prince William extends far beyond tradition. He arrived there in 1995 amid one of the most turbulent periods of his childhood, when his parents’ marriage unraveled under relentless scrutiny. Just two years later, Diana died at 36 in a car crash in Paris. Through the difficult times, Eton provided stability. William also developed a close bond with housemaster Andrew Gailey, who became a trusted mentor, and several friends he made at Eton remain part of his inner circle today.
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"George will benefit from a group of friends who will remain close and loyal,” says Bedell Smith.
Adds Anderson: “William loved his time at Eton, but he would have thought about what school would be the best for George’s strengths, qualities and personality.”
Prince William at Eton College on June 16, 2000Credit: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty
Just as important, Eton offers a balance William remembers fondly: independence paired with closeness to family. During a recent appearance on The Reluctant Traveler, he recalled crossing the River Thames from school for what he described as “the best teas” with his grandmother Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle.
George, too, will remain close to home. Located just 15 minutes from the Wales family’s Windsor residence, Eton allows students to board while maintaining strong family ties. Boys return home on designated weekends, and parents are encouraged to attend sporting events, performances and other school activities.
The transition is being carefully managed. In May, William revealed that George had spent the previous night boarding at Lambrook, where many pupils ease into boarding life before senior school. It’s a gentler approach than William experienced: He began weekly boarding at Ludgrove at age 8.
Prince William with his parents, brother and housemaster at his first day at Eton College in 1995Credit: Princess Diana Archive/Hulton Archive/Getty
There may be echoes of history on George’s first day. When William arrived at Eton, cameras captured him signing in alongside then-Prince Charles, Diana and Harry.
Three decades later, the Prince and Princess of Wales are expected to make a similar appearance as they drop George off—a symbolic passing of the baton from one future monarch to the next.
Over the past year, George has appeared increasingly comfortable in public, from Wimbledon to Buckingham Palace balcony appearances. Friends and observers have described him as thoughtful and serious—qualities often associated with William at a similar age.
Like his father, George is a devoted Aston Villa supporter, often joining William at soccer matches. He even shares his father’s taste in music. While William has said that AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” is his soundtrack for Monday mornings, Kate recently shared that George requests their songs on school runs and plays guitar.
Prince George and Prince William during the EURO 2024 final match on July 14, 2024 in Berlin, GermanyCredit: Jean Catuffe/Getty
George arrives at this milestone under very different circumstances from his father’s, but he hasn’t been untouched by adversity. In 2024, he and his siblings supported their mother through her cancer treatment.
“I know how hard it was for the children and my parents,” Kate said during a visit to a cancer center in June. “You go through it with them.”
Adds Bedell Smith: “George’s great advantage is that he comes from a stable and loving home that appears to have become even more so as a result of Catherine’s illness. For George, it had to be a maturing experience that has given him an extra measure of empathy.”
Prince William, Kate Middleton and their children at Trooping the Colour on June 13, 2026Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty
Now, as he prepares to leave behind the school he has shared with Charlotte and Louis, George embarks on one of the first defining transitions of his life. For all the speculation about whether he would forge a different path, the decision suggests Prince William and Princess Kate see considerable value in the one William walked himself. And when George passes through Eton’s gates this September, he won’t simply be starting a new school. He’ll be taking one of the first defining steps toward the future that has awaited him since birth.
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