Technically, it’s not really a “royal tradition” that princes, dukes and viscounts are all graduates of Eton. Prince Charles didn’t go to Eton, but he sent his two sons there, so it feels like a “newer” tradition for the royal family. But does Prince William feel strongly about sending HIS sons to his prep school alma mater? I would suspect that William doesn’t feel like he has a choice – it’s simply what is done at this point, sending your princes and aristocratic sons off to Eton so that they can board with the sons of merely wealthy and politically well-connected. But Will and Kate have already made some unconventional choices for their kids’ early education, so maybe this is a fight Kate wants to have: apparently, Kate is not keen on sending George off to Eton. She wants to consider HER alma mater, Marlborough College:
The Duchess of Cambridge is considering sending Prince George to her alma mater Marlborough College, friends say. She and Prince William are said to have discussed enrolling their eldest at the £12,605-a-term boarding school rather than Eton, where his father and uncle went.
George, of course, is only five years old and the couple will not decide on his future education for years to come. He is a pupil at Thomas’s Battersea, a £6,158-a-term co-educational school in south-west London, where he can stay for another eight years. Both Marlborough and £13,556-a-term Eton take full-time boarders from the age of 13.
Friends say the couple are deliberating a ‘less traditional’ educational route for the future king than previous heirs. Although Wiltshire-based Marlborough is one of Britain’s top boarding schools, it prides itself on being less of a ‘hothouse’ than its rivals. It seeks a mixed-ability intake, although results are still good and 10 per cent of pupils go to Oxbridge. Eton sends a quarter to Oxbridge, latest figures show.
Kate and her siblings, Pippa and James Middleton, were Marlborough boarders and adored their time there. All three excelled, particularly at sport, with the duchess representing the school at hockey, netball, athletics and tennis. The ‘jaw-dropping’ facilities include an observatory and swimming pool with a movable floor to change its depth.
The friend added: ‘William and Catherine surprised many with their choice of Thomas’s Battersea for George over more traditional royal schools, but picked it because they felt it was the right fit for him. They are very keen to allow George to spread his wings as a child and won’t ever do what people expect them to do when it comes to their children.’
In the long term, I suspect that this will be one of the areas where Kate “cashes in” some of the goodwill she’s accumulated over the years: she’s going to fight to get her way on her kids’ education. And to be fair, I think a lot of people take issue with packing off their kids to same-sex boarding school for years, so Kate’s not alone there. Marlborough is at least co-ed, and Prince George could get to spend time with girls, and just be part of a less competitive environment. Still, I think Kate is more likely to get her way on Charlotte and Lou’s education. At the end of the day, they’ll probably be forced to send George to Eton.
And here’s an update, which I was expecting – Charlotte will be joining Prince George at Thomas’ Battersea in the fall.
Photos courtesy of Kensington Palace, WENN.
Why does it matter to anyone where George goes to school? Both schools are fantastic, but and if I was in Kate’s position I would see this as a fight worth having. She knows her child and can make the best decision for his education.
Honestly the idea of sending your young child off to boarding school makes me clutch my pearls slightly especially when they could afford the best education at home. It makes me think of poor lonely Baby Hiddleston. Maybe I’m just projecting but boarding school at such an early age sounds awful.
Agree, boarding school is way beyond my comprehension and I’m clutching my pearls. Boarding school seems sort of cruel and unnecessary, but that’s probably just me. I can’t imagine sending my younger kids away from home.
By the time it comes to Eton and the like, most of those kids have been at boarding school for years.
I worked at a “public” school which is a pre-Eton boarding school. Ages ranged from 6-13
The school actually turned down Will and Harry, they didn’t want to hassle of the added security and they (the school) were too posh. But the Fellowes went there and they used to play against them in rugby and soccer matches.
It can be very sad to see those little boys without their parents but this is where they start making the connections that follow them through their lives.
It was a wild experience.
I think for some children boarding school is a good choice – it can provide stability if, for example, parents move frequently as part of their job. I know of a number of people whose parents worked overseas in banking or the diplomatic corps and who moved regularly and/or wanted their children to be educated in the UK, and boarding school was a good answer.
It used to be tradition for the aristos to send their boys to prep school to board at 8 (!!) and I seem to remember back in the 80s there being a bit of a fuss because Diana didn’t want to do that with William and Harry? Charles was sent to Gordonstoun (that spelling looks wrong, but never mind) and loathed it so he probably wasn’t very keen either. But let’s be honest, there are heaps of private schools, of which Eton is merely the best known, and one way or another these children are going to be very expensively educated and have access to networks of financial and social capital that most of us can only dream of.
I think William and Harry actually went off to boarding school at 8, didn’t they? I remember reading that’s where they met their best friends the Van Strabanzee’s or, something! (My memory keeps saying their names are Von Trapp but I know that’s not right!)
If Kate and William want to keep her kids at home until their 13 that’s progress and probably better especially for the kid who will be king, in the long run, to be raised in what seems like a happy family setting.
It always struck me as an upper class, rich person thing to do, honestly. The wealthy don’t raise their children, anyway, so it’s not like passing them off to be socially conditioned by others is a big shift.
Even 13 seems young for most kids, unless their home life is horrific or they really just want to get away from the family. There must be good pre-university schools for teenagers in London within commuting distance.
The British boarding school tradition not only seems cruel, it also is just letting other people entirely raise your children. There was a documentary about the young ones going off to boarding school. One more middle class family was military and thought it was better than dragging the kids away from friends every couple of years and also thought the kids would make useful lifelong contacts. But their older boy was 12 and had boarded since 8, and he seemed pretty distant with his parents and seemed to often turn down the chance to “go home”. That seems a tad off for a 12 year old. The little 8 year old girl really didn’t seem ready to be separated from her parents, especially her mother. None of the little ones seemed ready. Sometimes such separations occur involuntarily, but this was optional and seemed like a bad idea.
I went to boarding school at 13. (Not in UK, but it was v old school private/”posh” – actually had one of the Prince’s attend in his gap year)
I came from a v happy family life etc etc, but went there because the opportunities on offer were too good to turn down! My parents always said if I didn’t like it I could change. I stayed there the full 5 years. For better or worse it very much shaped me.
I met my best friend in the world there.
I had so many opportunities I wouldn’t have had at the alternatives in my home town.
I’m still v close with my family, but also a very independent person – probably influenced by that!
Both William and Harry were weekly boarders at Ludgrove, a prep school, from the age of 8, and I have never heard that they disliked it. Some of the boys they met there are firm friends until today.
I wonder if George will go to a prep boarding school at some stage, I think Kate did too. Boarding school is a much safer option for royal children who no longer are schooled at home like the Queen was. Driving three young children back and forth across London for years on end until they are 13 is not a good option. I really doubt that they will stay at that School much beyond the age of 8. George needs to be prepared to be King and that will have to start soon.
I really don’t see why they’d have to choose Eton. Even if a bunch of other royals have gone there, it’s still not a requirement. I can’t see either the Queen or Charles making a fuss about it.
Exactly. Charles isn’t going to force them and the Queen is unlikely to still be here by the time that issue comes up.
Eton isn’t really a tradition anyway. The “tradition” was for Gordenstoun school in Scotland where Prince Phillip, Princes Charles, Andrew and Edward were educated. The choice of Eton was always said to be Princess Diana’s at the time because she wanted the boys near London (and the fact the Charles was said to have disliked his time at Gordenstoun).
In this day and age Marlborough is probably a much better choice from a security point of view. Some of the Eton boarding houses are in the town and boys tend to walk around the town a lot in their uniforms. The press generally obeyed the Palace’s instructions not to harass or photograph William and Harry – but who knows what would happen these days?
William and Harry became boarding students at age 8, right? Will that happen with George?
No. I think they will stay until primary graduation.
I could not imagine sending off my 7 year old to boarding school a year from now. Are you kidding me. She’s still a child who very much needs her parents.
I just don’t understand sending children off to boarding school.
I don’t either. They need their parents.
Exactly.
No way would I hand the raising of my son over to someone else, or several someone else’s. I have no idea what kind of values and morals they are instilling in my son, not to mention what kind of influence he’s under, or what bullying he’s experiencing from his peers. Nopity nope, nope nope. Kinda funny when I think of all those years of triple birth control while being adamant I was never having children. (for the record, it didn’t happen again)
Keen Kate at it again!
I’d hope they would be open to all schools.
They want the middle class dream so send George to a regular school.
Will never happen. People here like probably NY/ LA love love to send their kids to private/public schools. It’s that PLU (people like us) theory. My bosses daughter spent a week 3 hours a day sitting exams for 5 diff schools she is 10. Even at my sons normal school many parents oh I wish there was a “good” school for 13-18.. well they mean MORE middle class kids. AT the end of the day they will do what they want it will be posh and they will board probably from possibly 8 but def. by 11 when the prep school they are in finishes.
Interesting detail about L.A. tho, which has some great public high schools (in the American sense of tax funded and open to anyone in the district), it’s not uncommon for the very wealthy and celebs to send their kids to public school in L.A. Just saying because while living in a good school district isn’t necessarily affordable either, it’s still offers a model of equal educational opportunities.
I live in LA and disagree that there’s a plethora of good public schools here. I don’t have kids but my friends that do send their kids to private and most of my friends raised here went to private. The only “good” public high schools are Palisades High, Beverly Hills High and the schools in South Pasadena. It’s pretty sad actually. I went to diverse, high performing public schools in San Diego and it’s a shame that doesn’t exist in Los Angeles.
Should’ve clarified that I meant those few small pockets, like in some West L.A. communities, where even the very wealthy send their kids to public school. It might be less common now, but in the 80/90s there were definitely some good examples of communities where kids from across the socioeconomic spectrum attended the same schools.
I agree that no one will force W&K to do anything regarding their children. There is nothing wrong Malborough just like there’s nothing wrong with Battersea. There’s no strong royal tradition regarding schools.
I think he’ll go to Eton, mainly because it seems like William had a good experience there and by that point, it will be useless to keep pretending that he’s a regular kid. But it sounds like Marlborough is also a top school so it really doesn’t seem like a meaningful difference IMO, except maybe for bragging rights.
I don’t think Charles is going to make an issue of it either way. I think, given his own experience at school, he’s going to support them in making the right decision for their children.
And yes, this is a way for Kate to “cash in” like Kaiser said and its also a way for the Cambridges to show how “normal” they are. Look – we’re not sending him to Eton! How incredibly middle class of us! He’s going to this other posh school instead!
+1 on the pretending he’s a regular kid. Honestly, he’s going to be king, he is rich, and I am kinda tired of the Cambridge and Sussex fetish with all things “normal” (did that come from Diana?). You’re not normal. Get over it.
Of all the criticism Kate and William receive the most unfair is the one about their children’s education. Yes George will be king but it will most probably happen when he’ll be in his 50/60’s
He is still a little boy and as his brother and sister deserve to enjoy his childhood.
I don’t see how you can fault parents for wanting to protect and preserve their children. It’s like people complaining they don’t release enough picture of their children or release them only when convenient to them. Guess what? It’s their prerogative. Until those children and Harry and Meghan’s children are 18 you are not entitled to anything even if you are a British citizen. They may be born in with immense privileges they are still children.
Those arguments fall to pieces when they allow public pap photos of their kids for PR. They keep yanking press chains and people should keep calling them out about it.
She probably wants coed so all her kids can attend. If
George and Louis go to Eton, then Charlotte will have to go elsewhere. I don’t think Harry and Meghan will send their sons there.
Good point, and I wonder if its almost the reverse in terms of the thinking. Like she wants Charlotte to go there since she had a good experience there, so she may just want to send all three so they go to the same school.
I would be surprised if Harry and Megs didn’t send their son(s) to Eton as its only 20 mins from their new home in Frogmore.
Edward and Sophie’s kids went to St Georges and St Mary’s, both close to their home at Windsor.
I was thinking the same, she probably wants a co ed, so all their children can go together at the same school once the time comes. Marlborough is a great school, and a little more progressive -that meaning wealthy parents but not necessarily from the aristocracy or political class- than Eton.
But if we think about George’s future as king, he might be better served in Eton, cementing future relations and friendships with the men he is going to encounter in his future as prince of Wales.
Personally, I feel the wheel of time is turning, and a future king should be educated with women as peers…
I believe this has more to do with the three Cambridge children being allowed to spend time together when they board. If they send George and Louis to Eton, Charlotte can’t follow. I’m sure Kate is relying on her experience based on the fact she was able to see her siblings while at school (even though she graduated a year after James joined the school).
Do the kids really “board” as in living at the school? I’d think they’d want their kids home every night, but that’s just me.
Both William and Kate boarded so to them it’s normal. My daughter boarded for awhile at her school but hated being away from home and I hated being away from her, so she stayed as a ‘day pupil’. There are a lot of tears and the house mother has her work cut out with a lot of kids being upset and not being able to settle at first but then they get used to it. I used to get a call every evening to reassure me that mine was settling but it wasn’t for us. Some kids love it though.
I boarded for four years (14-18) during the academic terms then I attended and later worked at a sleep-away summer camp for 10-12 weeks. I did miss my parents and the transition from NYC to New England was rough (and it was an all girls school!) but I absolutely loved it, and loved New England winters – I like to think it gave me more of a back bone. And my sister joined me two years in (though at the time we did not get along…).
TBH though I’m not sure if I would send my kids down that route for various reasons but it made sense for me at the time because boarding schools were looking to ethnically and economically diversify at that time…
I think all 3 children will go to the same schools. It won’t be ‘special George’ at one school and his siblings at another.
I think they will go to Marlborough as all three can attend together, to me that makes sense and it is a fine school we looked at sending my daughter there. Don’t think she’ll have a problem with the queen or Charles as the only reason William and Harry attended Eton was because of Diana, it’s a Spencer tradition. The royals tend to go up to Gordunston in Scotland (Philip,Charles, Andrew, Edward, Peter and Zara) all went.
Came here to say exactly this about Eton: Spencer tradition.
Don’t forget Charles (and his mother) had really wanted to go to Eton himself also.
And the Queen Mother. Her brothers I believe went to Eton. A tradition in her family. And a lot of the cousins went to Eton, Duke of Gloucester, Duke of Kent, I think. And the Kent and Gloucester boys were all sent there, with the exception of Lord Nicholas Windsor who went to Harrow, because Eton wouldn’t take him.
Also some of the Mountbatten boys, Nicholas Knatchbull, who developed a serious drug problem while he was there. It was mostly Phillip who bucked tradition by sending his sons to Gordonston. Not just the Spencers.
What rubbish. As you say, Charles didn’t even go to Eton. He went to Gordonstoun on Philip’s insistence, he hated it and he sent Harry and Wills to Eton, which is right by Windsor Castle, and so near their grandmother’s weekend residence.
There is no royal protocol or tradition here, just a total fabrication from thirsty royals writers. They literally could even have watched S2 of The Crown for this information. Rule of thumb: It’s not ‘royal protocol’ if you’re making it up! #crankypants
I’m becoming more and more convinced that basically nothing is royal protocol other than not completely going bonkers in public or revealing distasteful personal info.
It’s starting to strike me as crazy that there’s the intense discussion about Meghan, and sometimes Kate but I think more Meghan recently and “protocol” when it comes to leg crossing or nail polish or shoulder showing or anything else. When this is the same family who came off the previous generation’s gross divorce details being openly discussed in public and pictures of people having their toes sucked. Those ARE embarrassing things that undermine the dignity of the family (or more importantly the family’s image) .
I think The Queen doesn’t have a book of stupid rules like nail polish color. I think she has certain expectations of decorum and the 80/90s probably threw her for a loop thinking any of what happened would actually have to explained as not acceptable. So I think that’s the messaging around her expectations within the family (obviously just guessing). And maybe where some of this protocol craziness has jumped the shark. I really don’t think she’s losing sleep over nail polish or how someone crosses her legs.
There is a certain protocol in how people sit in a formal group photo. Sitters are encouraged not to cross their legs as it spoils the uniformity of the line. Nothing to do with the RF, just normal etiquette. A bit like not crossing your leg on the front row of a fashion show. I’d imagine normally the Royal ladies are just expected not to expose too much thigh when sitting.
Rosie, tell it to Princess Anne who crossed her legs in a group photo just the other day.
I think it’s also possible to attend Eton as a day pupil? But either way my guess is he won’t be boarding until he’s 13. They seem very invested in creating as ‘normal’ (idealized middle class, like others said) a family environment as they can.
My guess is that at a place like Eton, being royal or aristocratic is singled out more- they pride themselves on being a cut above. They always talk about how many prime ministers, and other elite people they’ve churned out over the years. Perhaps Kate and William don’t want that for George as a teenager.
I think it will be really interesting to see whether they go with expectations and send him to Eton or continue to lean towards ‘normalcy’. It might be that by the time he’s a teenager they think he has to start to do the done thing. Or maybe they feel like he has a lifetime of being proper ahead of him so as a teen they should just protect him from all of that.
Don’t see the issue especially if she was happy there.
I could see William expressing interest in this just to stick it to Charles but at the end of the day his snobbery will win out and George will go to Eton.
I think George is a sensitive child, so as long as they don’t send him to Gordonstoun I think he will be fine. Both Eton and Marlborough are amazing schools, either would be fine.
I just discovered a random tidbit about the middletons and marlborough apparently pippa attended on a sports/all rounder scholarship while kate and james fees were paid through an inheritance passed down through the middleton side.
I think it’s to let all 3 children attend the same schools (not that they like being middle class or whatever). She likely may not want George and Louis attending Eton and Charlotte being sent elsewhere, or not even just ‘special’ George goes to Eton and the other 2 go elsewhere.
I think it should be mandatory for children of royalty and politicians to attend state schools. That way we will ensure the public are getting the best education for their children. I bet you they will find the funding that’s not currently available.
Princess Margaret’s children went to Bedales, Beatrice went to St Georges in Ascot and Eugenie ended up at Marlborough. Sensibly, the parents seem to choose the school that best fits their child, well apart from Prince Phillip.
Interesting. Lady Sarah Chatto went to Bedales, but both her sons went to Eton.
Been researching….her husband went to Bedales too. Maybe they thought it would be too relaxed for their sons.
I think Lady Sarah disliked Bedales? Also an article came out quite a few years ago about what a disaster Bedales is and even cases of bullying and sexual harrasment. It’s also very hippy-dippy…I think Cressida Bonas was sent there by her mum too.
Princess Margaret wanted a bohemian culture for her daughter but Lady Sarah was more practical than her parents and choose something more safe and practical for her sons. So her choice makes sense…she’s so the opposite of her hedonistic parents!
@Jules. Both Margaret’s children are very artistic, so I guess Bedales was a good choice. It had a good reputation for the arts.
I know a book was written about all the shenanigans that go on there. I would have loved to have read it, but it is not available in my country.
They seem like really good parents. I think it’s cool that they would prefer a well-rounded education over the most posh option. It’s not like their kids don’t have access to a network, they’re basically being raised with William’s friends’ kids, who were Charles’ friends’ kids etc
I have four cousins that went to Eton. I like all of them in different ways, and for the individual its usually worth it monetarily & socially, but too many Etonians in power is a bad way to configure our society.