While Prince William and Prince Harry both attended Eton College, a source tells VF that the Prince and Princess of Wales are “leaning towards other schools” for the future king’s secondary education.
It has been widely reported that the 12-year-old heir would follow in his father’s footsteps and enroll at Eton College in Windsor. But while there is no official word from Kensington Palace, it appears that Marlborough, the coed boarding school Princess Kate attended from ages 14 to 18, is now the Prince and Princess of Wales’s preferred choice for George.
“While Eton would be the obvious choice because it is on their doorstep and where William went, they are leaning towards other schools. I’m hearing Marlborough is the front-runner,” a source told Vanity Fair. Founded in 1440, Eton has produced 20 British prime ministers, including Robert Walpole, David Cameron, and Boris Johnson. Both Prince William and Prince Harry attended Eton, which at the time marked a bold new chapter for the royal family, as the late Prince Philip and King Charles were educated at Gordonstoun in Scotland. While palace insiders insist that the couple have not yet decided where Prince George will attend, Princess Kate has spent hours researching and exploring their options. Last year, she was seen visiting several schools, including coed and single-sex day schools, in north London. However, both the prince and princess are keen for George to board, believing it will give him a sense of independence. There is also the matter of George’s security, which is of the utmost importance to their decision. Both Eton and Marlborough are boarding schools with plenty of land and the infrastructure for royal protection officers, who will be by George’s side 24/7. “I genuinely don’t think they’ve one hundred percent decided, but there is talk among the Marlborough set that they’ve allocated a house for George and that security has been a big issue,” says a source. While attending Eton, William and Harry had round-the-clock police protection while the palace negotiated an agreement with the press that the boys would be left alone to enjoy their schooling. William was allowed to walk around the surrounding town, enjoying his freedom, and often walked across the bridge to Windsor Castle to see his grandparents. According to Ingrid Seward, editor in chief of Majesty magazine, security will be paramount when it comes to making the final decision about where George goes to school. “I expect we will be told later on in the summer at the very last minute, when the security detail has been organized, but clearly it’s an important consideration. It will require two protection officers taking it in turns to look after George while he’s at school,” she said. Seward added that she has heard that Eton was not necessarily William and Kate’s first choice. “William loved Eton and did well academically, but I don’t think we should assume George will follow suit. For a start, we are seeing William doing things differently. He is mindful of costs and appearances when it comes to his family and the future,” she explained. “I’m told William has voiced concerns about how it will look for George to be at such an elitist and expensive school. Eton is very different today to when William was there. It’s still very good academically, but it’s very monied and doesn’t have the same cachet it once had. The people who used to be able to afford the fees, i.e. the British aristocracy, now can’t afford it anymore.” Furthermore, the storied school could present a security issue because of its “town and gown” policy, Seward says. “Pupils walk through the town in their uniform, and I would imagine that’s a consideration for them when choosing a school.” As well as security, a coeducational school is said to be favored by Princess Kate, who left the all-girls Downe House School for Marlborough, after a miserable first year when she was bullied at Downe House, as former classmates have alleged. “Kate had a great time at Marlborough and it ticks all the boxes. I think if they can, they would love for all three children to be at school together, which puts Marlborough as the top choice,” added the source. George is currently in his final year at Lambrook, a mixed independent school in Berkshire. His siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, also attend the prep school. The palace is unlikely to announce which school Prince George will be attending until the late spring, when all security arrangements have been put in place. When asked about which school they planned to send Prince George to, a palace press officer declined to comment.
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