Prince William‘s son, Prince George, will follow in his footsteps and enroll at Eton College this September, following months of speculation over where he would continue his education.

William has previously spoken about how much he enjoyed his time at the prestigious boys’ boarding school, unlike his estranged younger brother, Prince Harry, who has suggested he stayed largely because of the school’s sports program.

The Prince of Wales has also been gradually introducing George to public-facing royal moments, including a Christmas charity event.

Prince George To Attend Eton In September

Kensington Palace has put an end to months of intense speculation, officially confirming that Prince George will attend Eton College starting this September.

The 12-year-old prince, who is second in line to the British throne, will celebrate his 13th birthday in July before moving to the £63k($83)-a-year school.

George is currently in his final term at Lambrook School in Berkshire, where he has been studying with his siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, since enrolling in 2022.

There had been speculation about where he would go next, with famous schools like Marlborough College, his mother’s alma mater, and Oundle School often coming up.

A statement on behalf of William and Kate said, “Kensington Palace can confirm that Prince George will attend Eton College from September,” per The Mirror.

William And Kate See Eton As Royal Preparation

Although the statement did not confirm whether George will board, the preteen is expected to follow the college routine of living on campus in one of its 25 boarding houses, with reports suggesting each boy gets a private single room, per the BBC.

The historic school has educated 20 British prime ministers, as well as politicians like Lord David Cameron, Boris Johnson, and Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg.

Weighing in on how George is expected to settle in, the Good Schools Guide said of Eton College, “Some boys take to boarding like a fish to water; others take a minute to settle in.”

The guide’s managing editor, Melanie Sanderson, noted that although the school has been around for centuries, “it is a modern school with a progressive outlook.”

“Most 13-year-old boys arriving there in September cannot possibly know what adult life holds for them,” she said. “Prince George, however, faces a very particular future, and his parents, with an unrivaled choice of schools available to them, have decided that an Eton education represents the best preparation for life as a modern working royal.”

Prince George Follows In His Father’s Footsteps

By enrolling at Eton, George follows in the footsteps of his father, who broke royal precedent by entering the historic institution in 1995.

Prior generations of royal heirs, including King Charles III and the late Prince Philip, had attended Gordonstoun, a prestigious boarding school in the Scottish Highlands.

When William was 18, he gave an interview in which he had glowing things to say about the institution, where he boarded at Manor House.

“I’ve really enjoyed being able to go about Eton as just another student,” he said at the time, per The Mirror.

During his time there, William would often spend his free Sunday afternoons at home at Windsor Castle for tea with his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. He was also a prefect and joined several sports teams, including the water polo team, his house football team, and the swimming team.

Prince Harry Had A Very Different Eton Experience

William’s experience at Eton was very different from that of his younger brother, Prince Harry, who attended between 1998 and 2003 and has often spoken about how much he struggled there.

In a recent interview with Time, the Duke of Sussex said his time there was only prolonged because he enjoyed playing sports. Otherwise, he suggested, he might have considered leaving earlier.

“Sport held me together,” Harry said. “I was one of those kids at school who did not enjoy classroom work. If it wasn’t for the sports field and the amount of sports that were on offer, there’s no way I would have stayed in school.”

In his 2023 memoir, he also wrote about how difficult it was for him to settle in, calling the experience “a profound shock.”

He added that he “didn’t even know how to get dressed in the morning. I was in way, way over my head.”

Prince George Could Join William For A Future U.S. Visit

William has been slowly introducing his heir to public-facing duties, including a joint appearance at a Christmas charity event.

George also appeared at the recently held “Trooping the Colour,” as well as during the family’s walk on Easter Sunday.

Reports have claimed that the Prince of Wales may travel to the U.S. for both the ongoing World Cup and the country’s 250th anniversary of independence.

According to Fox News Digital, royal author Christopher Andersen said William may be considering the trip with his children, and a Middleton family source told him they are “over the moon with excitement,” especially as George is “a passionate soccer fan.”

“This would mark the first known visit to the U.S. by two future kings traveling together,” Andersen said. “This would also mark the first time the Wales children have ever set foot on American soil.”

However, a Kensington Palace spokesperson pushed back on the claims, telling the news outlet, “There are currently no public plans for a trip to the U.S. Hoping for a great performance from England, though!”