What to know about Eton College as Prince George heads there in the fall

The eldest child of Prince William and Princess Catherine will be attending the elite all-boys’ boarding school

Published Jun 17, 2026  •  Last updated 26 minutes ago  •  3 minute read

Britain's Prince George of Wales and Britain's Princess Charlotte of Wales make their way back to Buckingham Palace from Horse Guards Parade during the King's Birthday Parade "Trooping the Colour" in London on June 13, 2026. Photo by Justin Tallis/AFP /Getty Images

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Prince George is following in the royal footsteps of many before him and will be heading to Eton College in the fall.

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The eldest child of Prince William and Princess Catherine will be attending the elite all-boys boarding school, just like his dad and uncle, Prince Harry, before him, Kensington Palace confirmed, according to the BBC.

It was unclear whether his younger brother, Prince George, who turns 13 on July 22, would attend Eton or his mother’s alma mater, the coed Marlborough College, however, a source dashed those dreams last year, telling the Daily Mail that inevitably, “All roads lead to Eton.”

Here’s what else you need to know about the exclusive secondary school:

When was Eton founded?

Eton College was founded in 1440 by George’s distant relative King Henry VI.

Aside from William and Harry, other Royal Family members who attended the historic school include Queen Elizabeth II’s cousins Prince Richard and Prince Michael of Kent, Prince Michael’s son Lord Frederick Windsor, and the late monarch and Prince Philip’s youngest son, Prince Edward.

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The late Princess Diana’s father, John Spencer, and her brother, Charles Spencer, are also Etonians, while 20 British prime ministers have also studied there.

As for celebrities, Tom Hiddleston, Eddie Redmayne, Dominic West and Damian Lewis count themselves among Old Etonians.

Prince William plays in a soccer game at his school, Eton College. (Ian Jones/St. James Palace/Getty Images) Photo by Ian Jones/St. James Palace /Getty Images

Living large at Eton

The renowned college houses about 1,350 boys a year across 25 different residences where every student gets their own room.

Each house — which accommodates about 50 to 55 boys between the ages of 13 and 18 — operates like a family, according to the school’s website, and is led by a resident House Master and is supported by a Dame who looks after the students’ domestic needs and wellbeing.

Also, some houses have their own in-house dining facilities, while others simply eat in main college dining hall.

Prince Harry, the younger son of King Charles, sits on May 12, 2003 in his room at Eton College. (Kirsty Wigglesworth/Pool/AFP/Getty Images) Photo by Kirsty Wigglesworth/Pool/AFP /Getty Images

How much is tuition?

The school doesn’t allow for day or weekly students so full boarding is the only option.

To attend one of the most prestigious colleges in England is going to cost a pretty penny — but the rich royal family tradition appears to be worth it.

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Fees for the 2025-26 years were just over 63,000 pounds (just under $119,000).

Eton school is pictured in Eton, west of London, on May 24, 2010. (Guy Jackson/AFP/Getty Images) Photo by Guy Jackson/AFP /Getty Images

What can George expect?

Melanie Sanderson, the school guide’s managing editor, told the BBC that “despite its ancient buildings, it is a modern school with a progressive outlook.”

She explained: “Most 13-year-old boys arriving there in September cannot possibly know what adult life holds for them.”

As for George, who is second in line to the throne, Sanderson says he “faces a very particular future” but “his parents, with an unrivalled choice of schools available to them, have decided that an Eton education represents the best preparation for life as a modern working royal.”

While the Prince and Princess of Wales have done their best to give George as “normal” an upbringing as possible, the monarchy is happening.

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William brought up George’s future as king while appearing on Apple TV+’s The Reluctant Traveler in October, where he told series star Eugene Levy, “Obviously, I want to create a world in which my son is proud of what we do, a world and a job that actually does impact people’s lives for the better.”

He continued: “That is caveated with, I hope we don’t go back to some of the practices in the past that (Prince) Harry and I had to grow up in — and I’ll do everything I can to make sure we don’t regress in that situation.

The future king added: “I think it’s safe to say that change is on my agenda. Change for good. And I embrace that and I enjoy that change — I don’t fear it.”

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