Prince George Begins First Day as Boarder at Historic Eton College
Prince George began his first day at Eton College alongside his parents, Prince William and Kate Middleton. The 13-year-old prince enters the historic boarding school under strict privacy measures and a ban on smartphones.
Prince George, second in line to the British throne, began a significant chapter in his life on Tuesday as he arrived for his first day as a boarder at the renowned Eton College. The 13-year-old prince walked across the courtyard of the historic institution alongside his proud parents, Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, amid heavy rain. Dressed in a button-down shirt, tie, dark jacket, and chinos, George looked slightly excited and nervous about transitioning to independent living at the prestigious boarding school located near the couple's Windsor residence.
The family crossed the ancient central courtyard, known to students as "School Yard," and stopped beside the bronze statue of the founder, King Henry VI. There, they were greeted by Headmaster Simon Henderson and Chairman of the Board of Governors Sir Nicholas Coleridge. William was the first to shake hands with the directors, followed by George, while Catherine—wearing an elegant green dress and holding a large umbrella—remained slightly behind, looking on at her eldest son with pride.
Welcome to Eton and Boarding Life
The headmaster welcomed the young prince with a smile, saying, "Welcome, George, good luck and enjoy it," and invited the family inside the building to escape the storm. Just before the doors closed, Catherine was seen placing a protective and supportive hand on George's back. Afterward, the parents accompanied their son to his private room in one of the campus's 25 boarding houses to help him settle in before the rest of the students returned the following day.
Eton College was founded in 1440 and has become one of the most famous educational institutions in the world, having educated 20 British prime ministers, royals, and famous actors. Its annual tuition exceeds £65,000 and features strict traditions—from a unique uniform including a black tailcoat and white collared shirt to a personalized ratio of one teacher for every seven students.
"Welcome, George, good luck and enjoy it," said Headmaster Simon Henderson upon greeting the young prince.
Strict Rules and Media Privacy
One rule that surely pleased William and Kate, known for their opposition to screens at a young age, concerns the institution's communication policy: ninth-grade students (known at the school as "F Blockers") are forbidden from owning smartphones and are only permitted to use a basic "Nokia" device in a very limited capacity.
George's arrival at Eton was characterized by relative modesty compared to his father William's first day at the institution in September 1995, when dozens of press photographers from around the world waited for him alongside his parents, Prince Charles and Princess Diana. This time, a short and restricted photo opportunity was organized just half an hour before the arrival of other students, with the goal of protecting their privacy.
Kensington Palace clarified that the couple's strong desire is for their son to receive a quiet and continuous education away from the spotlight for the next five years. As part of this, the palace refused to publish the name of the specific residential house where George will stay, and special warning signs were placed around the town of Windsor urging passersby and the general public to refrain from photographing students moving between campus buildings.
