As their firstborn child starts secondary school, the Prince and Princess of Wales must make a significant decision about which school is suitable for a future king.
The couple will be quite conscious of the consequences of sending their kids to an inappropriate school, in addition to their will to provide them with “normal” upbringings.
There is ample documentation of King Charles’s challenging time in the Scottish boarding school Gordonstoun. Former classmate Johnny Stonborough claims that as a teenager, he was “very isolated” and “badly beaten” by bullies.
Prince Harry, meanwhile, has talked about how hard it was for him to fit in at Eton, claiming that he “didn’t enjoy school at all” and wanted to be a “bad boy.”
The parents are getting closer to finalizing their decision as George finishes his Common admission Exams this week, having probably already finished admission exams for any possible schools.
Will George attend Eton College, the prestigious boys’ boarding school established by King Henry VI and costing £63,298 annually, like his father, uncle, and world leaders like Boris Johnson and David Cameron?
Or will the school’s single-sex policy discourage Catherine, who would rather he attend her alma mater, Marlborough College in Wiltshire, where boarding costs are £61,809 a year?
Additionally, there is always the possibility that the future King and Queen’s travels to different schools will radically change the situation and set George on his own course at a school that neither of his parents attended.
Before Prince George’s major transfer from his present Lambrook School in September, the Daily Mail exposes the runners and riders for his new school.
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Eton University
Prince George may soon attend Eton College, which educated the Duke of Sussex and the Prince of Wales.
£63,298 in annual fees
The forest lodge is six miles away.
When 12-year-old George leaves Lambrook, his preparatory school in Berkshire, it has long been assumed that he will enroll in single-sex Eton College.
There are twenty-five houses at Eton, including the main college, which is home to the most brilliant students, known as King’s Scholars.
The others are scattered across the college campus and the hamlet, which is officially owned by the college, and include Angelo’s, The Hopgarden, Cotton Hall House, and Hawtrey House.
To enable students to interact with students of different ages, each can accommodate about fifty boys, ten from each year.
Manor House was established in the early 1700s and was home to both Princes William and Harry. The Duke of Wellington was one of its founding members.
In contrast to many public schools, every student has a private study space starting at age 13 to promote the growth of self-discipline and organizational abilities in completing assignments and deadlines.
They can prepare refreshments in the on-site facilities and be catered to in their home.
Marlborough College
Jack Whitehall and Princess Eugenie are grads of Marlborough College, the alma school of the Princess of Wales.
£61,809 in annual fees
57 miles is the distance from the forest edge.
One of the most prominent public schools in the nation, it is housed in a historic structure on the outskirts of a charming town and has produced poets, comedians, and future queens.
Artist William Morris, poets John Betjeman and Siegfried Sassoon, former prime minister David Cameron’s wife Samantha, and comedian Jack Whitehall have all passed through the school’s corridors since it was established in 1843 to educate the sons of clerics.
Even though few might have predicted it at first, it welcomed a princess-in-waiting in 1996, seven years after school became completely coeducational and had previously only allowed girls in the sixth form.
There are six all-boys’ houses, six all-girls’ houses, and four mixed homes in Marlborough, which are scattered throughout the school’s campus and the neighboring upscale market town.
Celebrity kids have moved into Kate’s old home in Marlborough, Elmhurst.
OUNDLE
Northamptonshire’s Oundle (pictured) costs £22,000 for day students and £44,330 for full-time boarders annually.
FEES ANNUAL: £44,330
100 miles is the distance from the forest edge.
In May, the Prince and Princess of Wales were seen inspecting the £59,000 Northamptonshire residential school.
Because they could send all three of their children to Oundle School, which was established in 1556, Kate and William are thought to have liked it.
The school, which costs between £22,000 for day students and £44,330 for full-time boarders annually, is known for its art and music, appreciates tradition, is environmentally responsible, and offers excellent pastoral care.
With about 820 boarders and 310 day students, Oundle School is currently the third-largest boarding school in England, only surpassed by Eton and Millfield. The male to female ratio at the school is currently 60/40. Girls were first admitted in 1990.
Students, referred to as Oundelians, can start boarding at age 11 and study a variety of topics, such as Chinese, Latin, and Ancient Greek.
Richard Dawkins, Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden, and Tom and Ben Curry, two rugby players from England, are among the alumni.
The Sun cited a source who said, “William and Kate’s visit was terribly exciting.”
“They are considering other schools, but people in Oundle have their fingers crossed that George will be starting here in September.” “The town would be proud as punch if he attended school here.”
HIGHGATE EDUCATION
The Sunday Times Schools Guide awarded Highgate School (shown) the London Independent School of the Decade for 2021.
£32,787 in annual fees
26 miles is the distance from the forest edge.
Highgate School was shuttered earlier this year for a “special VIP visitor” who was reportedly the princess.
A source told Charlotte Griffiths of The Mail on Sunday that although a day school in north London would be a “unexpected choice,” the Waleses’ priorities may have shifted as a result of recent events. “With the year Catherine has had, she may well have thought to herself that she wants to soak up every drop of George’s childhood and tuck him into bed herself each night,” the source said.
The Sunday Times Schools Guide designated the award-winning institution London Independent School of the Decade for 2021. Notable graduates include Nobel Prize-winning poet TS Eliot, Liz Truss, and Marcus Mumford.
In keeping with Prince William’s emphasis on the environment, the school won several awards for its green activities, including the Education Choices Awards’ Supporting Sustainability award.
Wellington College
The Prince and Princess of Wales are reportedly interested in Wellington College (pictured), which is situated in Berkshire.
FEES ANNUAL: £62,250
Eleven miles separate you from the forest lodge.
The Waleses’ family home at Forest Lodge on the Windsor Estate is just a short distance from Wellington College, which is situated in the heart of Berkshire and charges £15,250 for day students and £20,750 for boarders.
Situated on 400 acres of expansive grounds, this esteemed coeducational institution was founded by Queen Victoria and takes great pleasure in its academic achievements.
Melanie Sanderson, managing editor of The Good Schools Guide, stated on HELLO!’s A Right Royal Podcast that Wellington College is undoubtedly a strong contender for Princess Charlotte, which naturally suggests it might also be of interest to George. “I’ve been told Wellington is a possible school for Princess Charlotte,” she said. “I suspect with the royals that normal rules possibly don’t apply.” They might be holding several positions at various institutions, in my opinion.
Melanie went on, “If Charlotte is going to a coed, it might be that they would want her brother Louis to join.” From a logistical perspective, that would be extremely beneficial to them.
