Prince George heading to Eton College to continue education

Prince George, the 12-year-old grandson of King Charles III, will follow in the footsteps of his father by attending Eton College later this year.  

George’s father, the heir to the throne, Prince William, and his uncle Prince Harry both attended Eton, which is one of Britain’s most elite schools and is located close to Windsor Castle, west of London.

“Kensington Palace can confirm that Prince George will attend Eton College from this September,” Prince William’s office said in a statement.

Fees for the all boys boarding school are about £63,000 ($119,718) a year.

George will be 13 years old on his birthday next month.

Speculation had raged for months about where Prince George would continue his education, with some observers predicting he would choose Marlborough College, the institution attended by his mother, Princess Catherine.  

Currently Prince George, the second in line to the throne, attends Lambrook School with his sister Charlotte and brother Louis near Windsor where the family have a home.

Prince William was the first member of the royal family to attend Eton. Charles went to Gordonstoun, the same private school on the north coast of Scotland that his own father, Prince Philip, had attended.

Prince William has said he enjoyed his time at the school and recently revealed he would often visit Windsor Castle on weekends to have tea with his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Eton, founded in 1440, has long been the alma mater for many of the country’s elite. It has educated 20 British prime ministers, including Boris Johnson and David Cameron, as well as actors Hugh Laurie, Damian Lewis and Tom Hiddleston.

It retains many traditions, with pupils wearing the traditional uniform of tail coats, stiff white collars and pinstriped trousers.

Reuters/AP