June 18, 2026

Prince George’s Future: Why Eton, What Happens Next, and How Britain’s Future King Will Be Educated

Show Notes
Transcript

Prince George is heading to Eton College, ending years of speculation about where the future king would continue his education.
In this special episode, we take a deep dive into the decision made by Prince William and Princess Catherine, why Eton ultimately beat other options, and what the choice reveals about the future direction of the House of Windsor.

We explore what life is actually like inside Eton College, including academics, boarding life, sports, military training, music, societies, traditions, and the school’s role in educating generations of British leaders.

How will George’s life change this September? What did William’s own experience at Eton teach him? Why did the Wales family decide to keep George close to Windsor? And what might this decision mean for Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in the years ahead?

This is your complete guide to Prince George’s next chapter and the school preparing a future king.

Palace Intrigue is a daily British royal family podcast covering King Charles, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton and the House of Windsor. New episodes every day. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network.

WEBVTT

1
00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:11.480
Calarougus Shark Media that low and welcome through Palace Intrigue.

2
00:00:11.480 --> 00:00:14.599
I am your host, Mark Francis. Kensington Palace has confirmed

3
00:00:14.640 --> 00:00:17.920
that Prince George will attend Eton College from September and

4
00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:20.359
in years of speculation about where the future king would

5
00:00:20.399 --> 00:00:24.039
continue his education, the announcement came just weeks before the

6
00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:26.239
end of the school year, but according to a Royal source,

7
00:00:26.280 --> 00:00:29.359
the decision itself was made much earlier. A source told

8
00:00:29.440 --> 00:00:32.359
The Daily Express, Prince George is really looking forward to

9
00:00:32.399 --> 00:00:34.799
going to Eton. They settled the decision in January, but

10
00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:37.119
mom and Dad wanted to wait a little longer before

11
00:00:37.159 --> 00:00:40.679
it was officially announced. William and Kate had reportedly considered

12
00:00:40.679 --> 00:00:43.479
more than one option for their eldest son. Eton, where

13
00:00:43.479 --> 00:00:47.280
William was educated, was understood to be competing with Marlborough College,

14
00:00:47.320 --> 00:00:50.520
the Wiltshire school attended by Kate, her sister Pepper, and

15
00:00:50.560 --> 00:00:54.439
brother James. According to the source, the decision involved more

16
00:00:54.439 --> 00:00:57.320
than simply choosing the right school for George. The decision

17
00:00:57.359 --> 00:00:59.799
wasn't just about George, the head defender in Charlotte and

18
00:00:59.840 --> 00:01:02.159
Law as well, but ultimately they wanted him to stay

19
00:01:02.200 --> 00:01:05.599
near the family. The Wales family moved to Adelaide Cottage

20
00:01:05.599 --> 00:01:08.560
on the Windsor Estate in twenty twenty two, placing them

21
00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:11.120
with an easy reach of Eton. Keeping George close to

22
00:01:11.159 --> 00:01:13.640
home means he will remain a regular part of family

23
00:01:13.680 --> 00:01:17.560
life while beginning the next stage of his education. William

24
00:01:17.640 --> 00:01:20.079
was thrilled that his son wanted to follow in his footsteps.

25
00:01:20.159 --> 00:01:24.239
The source said, he's incredibly proud now that Kensington Palace

26
00:01:24.280 --> 00:01:27.439
has confirmed a Prince George will attend Eton, Attention is

27
00:01:27.480 --> 00:01:29.799
turning to what life will actually look like for the

28
00:01:29.840 --> 00:01:32.920
future king once he arrives. Like his father, Prince William

29
00:01:32.920 --> 00:01:35.840
and uncle Prince Harry before him, George will be educated

30
00:01:35.879 --> 00:01:39.480
at the historic Berkshire School founded in fourteen forty, but

31
00:01:39.719 --> 00:01:43.200
modern Eaton offers far more than the traditional image of classrooms,

32
00:01:43.280 --> 00:01:47.120
uniforms and ancient buildings. According to the College, boys can

33
00:01:47.159 --> 00:01:50.079
choose from twenty eight academic subjects during their time at

34
00:01:50.120 --> 00:01:54.359
the school. Alongside core subjects such as English, mathematics, biology,

35
00:01:54.439 --> 00:01:57.400
chemistry and physics, students have access to an extensive range

36
00:01:57.439 --> 00:02:02.519
of options including ancient history, Latin Greek history of art, economics,

37
00:02:02.560 --> 00:02:07.879
government and politics, theology, geography, design, art, music, theater studies,

38
00:02:07.879 --> 00:02:12.039
and computer science languages play a particularly prominent role. Eton

39
00:02:12.120 --> 00:02:17.000
offers nine modern and classical languages, including French, German, Italian, Spanish,

40
00:02:17.080 --> 00:02:21.439
Russian and Japanese, Mandarin, Arabic, and Greek. The school's philosophy

41
00:02:21.479 --> 00:02:25.319
places as much emphasis on curiosity and enjoyment as academic achievement.

42
00:02:25.919 --> 00:02:28.240
Eaton says it wants students to develop a genuine love

43
00:02:28.280 --> 00:02:32.759
of learning rather than simply accumulating qualifications. The college explains

44
00:02:33.159 --> 00:02:36.319
it's crucial that boys enjoy their studies, thrive, and have fun,

45
00:02:36.520 --> 00:02:40.319
rather than leave feeling burnt out and disengaged. That doesn't

46
00:02:40.360 --> 00:02:44.360
mean standards are relaxed. The school also states examination results matter.

47
00:02:44.520 --> 00:02:47.000
We understand this and encourage all our boys to aspire

48
00:02:47.039 --> 00:02:51.439
to academic excellence. George's daily life will also be very

49
00:02:51.439 --> 00:02:54.280
different from what he has experienced at Lambrook School. Rather

50
00:02:54.319 --> 00:02:57.560
than relying heavily on parents and classroom teachers to oversee

51
00:02:57.560 --> 00:03:01.599
his studies, Eton is designed to encoura independence. Students are

52
00:03:01.639 --> 00:03:05.000
expected to manage their own schedules, organize their homework, and

53
00:03:05.039 --> 00:03:09.240
take increasing responsibility for their academic progress. It will be

54
00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:13.599
supervised by house masters and tutors, and will undergo regular assessments.

55
00:03:13.639 --> 00:03:16.960
Throughout the year. New students also set an assessment shortly

56
00:03:17.000 --> 00:03:20.639
after arrival to determine whether any additional learning support may

57
00:03:20.680 --> 00:03:23.840
be required outside the classroom. Even off as one of

58
00:03:23.879 --> 00:03:27.080
the broadest extra curricular programs of any school in Britain,

59
00:03:27.240 --> 00:03:31.719
the college says students can participate in drama productions, military training,

60
00:03:31.759 --> 00:03:36.879
through the combined Cadet Force, volunteering programs, debating societies and

61
00:03:37.120 --> 00:03:41.199
dozens of specialist clubs. The sport remains a major part

62
00:03:41.240 --> 00:03:43.759
of life at the school, with twenty five sports available.

63
00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:46.919
Students can also take part in fifty music ensembles and choirs,

64
00:03:47.120 --> 00:03:50.000
while eighteen players are staged each year. More than three

65
00:03:50.080 --> 00:03:53.800
hundred society meetings are held annually, covering everything from politics

66
00:03:53.840 --> 00:03:58.479
and current affairs to niche hobbies and academic interests. One

67
00:03:58.520 --> 00:04:01.120
former student described the export by saying, to be at

68
00:04:01.120 --> 00:04:02.840
a school where I can have a choir practice in

69
00:04:02.879 --> 00:04:06.039
the morning, rugby training in the afternoon, followed by wallgame,

70
00:04:06.080 --> 00:04:07.960
a band practice and a society to a call in

71
00:04:08.039 --> 00:04:10.400
one day is something one will simply not be able

72
00:04:10.400 --> 00:04:14.960
to do later in life. Education consultant Melanie Sanderson believes

73
00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:17.600
the choice of Eaton was an obvious one for Prince George.

74
00:04:17.959 --> 00:04:20.920
She told hello, Eton above all other schools, has a

75
00:04:20.959 --> 00:04:24.360
breadth that's really unparalleled. He will be rubbing shoulders with

76
00:04:24.439 --> 00:04:26.519
the children of the great and the good from all

77
00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:30.160
around the world. She also pointed to the school's strong

78
00:04:30.199 --> 00:04:32.240
links with the Church of England and suggested that would

79
00:04:32.240 --> 00:04:35.519
be important for a future monarch. William was confirmed at Eton,

80
00:04:35.560 --> 00:04:37.800
and I would expect George to go down the same path,

81
00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:45.279
she said. More palasin just a moment. Prince Harry's surprise

82
00:04:45.319 --> 00:04:47.759
appearance at Game five of the NBA Finals has sparked

83
00:04:47.759 --> 00:04:51.160
fresh commentary in the celebrity press, with one report claiming

84
00:04:51.160 --> 00:04:53.040
the Duke and Duchess of Sussex may have viewed the

85
00:04:53.120 --> 00:04:56.759
evening very differently. At the basketball game, the Duke was

86
00:04:56.800 --> 00:04:59.360
seated in the eighth row. According to Rob Shooters reporting,

87
00:04:59.399 --> 00:05:02.079
a source of li edged Meghan notices everything when it

88
00:05:02.120 --> 00:05:04.959
comes to image. To her, seating is status. It's not

89
00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:07.199
just about watching a game, it's about who sees you

90
00:05:07.279 --> 00:05:10.480
watching the game. The reports suggested Megan view the seating

91
00:05:10.560 --> 00:05:14.199
arrangement as a reflection of status, particularly when stars including

92
00:05:14.199 --> 00:05:16.680
Timothy Chalamey and Ben Stiller were seated nearer the court.

93
00:05:17.519 --> 00:05:19.600
The source claimed, Meghan believes Harry is one of the

94
00:05:19.600 --> 00:05:22.160
most recognizable men in the world. When he's sitting behind

95
00:05:22.160 --> 00:05:25.199
celebrities instead of beside them, she sees it as a message.

96
00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:27.800
Meghan knows Prince William and Princess Kate would have been

97
00:05:27.839 --> 00:05:31.240
offered front row treatment. However, the report also cited as

98
00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:34.040
second source who suggested Harry's reaction could not have been

99
00:05:34.079 --> 00:05:36.839
more different. Harry loved the game and barely gave the

100
00:05:36.839 --> 00:05:40.360
seating a second thought. The insider reportedly said that's the

101
00:05:40.399 --> 00:05:43.160
difference between them. He sees a basketball game, Megan sees

102
00:05:43.160 --> 00:05:46.519
a brand. Harry and Meghan have welcomed the British government's

103
00:05:46.519 --> 00:05:49.319
plans to introduce new restrictions on social media use for

104
00:05:49.720 --> 00:05:52.920
children under sixteen, while arguing that further action is still

105
00:05:52.959 --> 00:05:56.240
needed from technology companies. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex

106
00:05:56.279 --> 00:05:59.240
release a statement after Prime Minister Sir Kia Stamer announced

107
00:05:59.240 --> 00:06:03.319
proposals that would ban under sixteens from social media platforms

108
00:06:03.360 --> 00:06:06.759
beginning next year. The measures are expected to become law

109
00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:10.360
before Christmas and could take effect by the spring. In

110
00:06:10.399 --> 00:06:12.519
a statement, Harry and Meghan said, we welcome the UK

111
00:06:12.560 --> 00:06:16.160
government's announcement of new measures to better protect children online.

112
00:06:16.480 --> 00:06:19.560
The stories shared through the Lost Screen Memorial remind us

113
00:06:19.560 --> 00:06:23.319
that behind every debate about technology and regulation our real

114
00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:26.720
families whose lives have been forever changed. While measures such

115
00:06:26.720 --> 00:06:28.759
as these may help reduce harm, they do not fix

116
00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:32.600
the problem at its source. Lasting change requires safer platforms

117
00:06:32.639 --> 00:06:36.199
by design, meaningful accountability, and a commitment to putting children's

118
00:06:36.199 --> 00:06:39.519
well being ahead of engagement and profit. The burden cannot

119
00:06:39.560 --> 00:06:42.160
rest solely on parents, and children must also be borne

120
00:06:42.199 --> 00:06:46.000
by the companies. Until then, every day without meaningful change

121
00:06:46.040 --> 00:06:48.959
is another day the children remain exposed to preventable harm.

122
00:06:49.360 --> 00:06:52.600
Stronger protections are better than in action, and today's announcement

123
00:06:52.680 --> 00:06:56.160
is a welcome step forward. The new proposals would place

124
00:06:56.160 --> 00:06:59.959
responsibility on technology companies to enforce the restrictions, with firms

125
00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:04.120
potentially facing action if they failed to comply. After Australia

126
00:07:04.160 --> 00:07:07.480
introduced its own social media restrictions for under sixteens, the

127
00:07:07.600 --> 00:07:11.839
Sussexes praised what they called bold, decisive action, while similarly

128
00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:14.279
arguing that the legislation alone would not solve the wider

129
00:07:14.319 --> 00:07:18.600
problems posed by online platforms. Most recently, Meghan traveled to

130
00:07:18.639 --> 00:07:21.720
Geneva to participate in the launch of the Lost Screen Memorial,

131
00:07:22.040 --> 00:07:24.439
an initiative focused on raising awareness about the impact of

132
00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:30.160
harmful online content on young people and their families. Megan

133
00:07:30.199 --> 00:07:34.040
watchers were excited that she has another new product collaboration

134
00:07:34.199 --> 00:07:36.920
on the way for her lifestyle brand. As Ever, the

135
00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:39.759
Duchess used the brand's social media channels to tease what

136
00:07:39.879 --> 00:07:43.720
was described as a sweet collaboration. A short video showed

137
00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:46.319
strawberry jam being poured into a tumblt filled with ice

138
00:07:46.360 --> 00:07:49.800
before milk and matcha powder were added. While the video

139
00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:52.240
itself offered few clues, the thumbnail appeared to reveal a

140
00:07:52.279 --> 00:07:56.480
partnership with Clever Blends, a wellness beverage company Megan has

141
00:07:56.480 --> 00:08:00.519
supported for several years. Clever Blends produces plant based coffee

142
00:08:00.519 --> 00:08:04.839
and tea products containing probiotics, adaptogens, and other wellness ingredients.

143
00:08:05.319 --> 00:08:08.120
Meghan became both an investor and advisor to the company

144
00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:11.199
after its launch, and they have it Hey. If you

145
00:08:11.279 --> 00:08:13.160
like to email us or addresses the Palasin Drink at

146
00:08:13.199 --> 00:08:16.000
gmail dot com, please follow us a Spotify, Apple or

147
00:08:16.040 --> 00:08:18.319
the apple of your choice and Mike Francis my thanks

148
00:08:18.360 --> 00:08:21.680
to John McDermott, This is palace intrigue. Good terms,

Prince George’s Future: Why Eton, What Happens Next, and How Britain’s Future King Will Be Educated

Listen On

Recent Episodes