It's almost that time of year again - back to school! The September reset starts from next week (depending on which school children are attending) with families across the country enjoying the last of the summer break together before the kids head back to their lessons. And, the Prince and Princess of Wales are no different, with all three of their children preparing to return to school. However, for their eldest, Prince George, it's an especially significant moment, as he'll be starting a brand new school from next week.
Prince George recently turned 13 years old, which means it's time for him to leave his prep school and start his studies at Eton College. His dad, Prince William, studied at the same place when he was growing up, which is conveniently located close to Windsor Castle.
In an episode of The Reluctant Traveller with Eugene Levy, the Prince explained how he used to come back from the boarding school to visit his granny, the late Queen Elizabeth II, at weekends. Given the Prince and Princess of Wales and their family live in Great Windsor Park, Prince George will still be close enough to his parents for easy visits home.
With Eton being such an old institution (founded in the 1400s), it has a number of traditions, including a unique and very formal school uniform. So, what will Prince George have been measured up for this summer?
The Eton uniform echoes a traditional morning suit, with a long blazer with tails, a waistcoat worn over a white shirt or tunic, and pinstriped trousers. There are variations in the uniform to depict different responsibilities, such as a different coloured waistcoat for prefects, which Prince William wore.
While joining Eton will be a new experience, Prince George's previous school did offer boarding as an option, which he sometimes did, so this should help ease him into boarding full time. In a radio interview earlier this year, Prince William shared details of the family's busy school run mornings, explaining that - on that particular morning - Prince George had boarded the night before and would already be at school, while Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte would be on route. 'Charlotte and Louis, if you’re listening make sure you’re on time please. Make sure you’re not fighting over who’s listening to what this morning,' he said.
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The Prince and Princess of Wales drive their children to school themselves, and Prince William revealed there is a particular snack they often enjoy on route. 'There’s a lot of jam sandwiches taken in the car usually,' Prince William confessed. 'Louis will leave jam fingerprints throughout the car.'
On Prince George's first ever day of school, the press were able to photograph the moment, as Prince William took his son by the hand - dressed in his school uniform and cap - to meet the school's head. The couple were also photographed walking all three of their children to the gates of Lambrook School in 2022, but otherwise have privacy to go about their daily family life with their children.
Photographs from Prince William's childhood with his mother, Princess Diana echo the Wales, children's school days, as he can be seen in his own cap and uniform alongside his brother, Prince Harry.
