The Royal Schooling Showdown: 5 Shocking Factors Behind Prince George's Boarding School Decision

The question of where Prince George will attend secondary school is one of the most closely watched decisions in the Royal Family today. As of late 2025, the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince William and Kate Middleton, are reportedly navigating a complex and emotionally charged choice that pits royal tradition against modern parenting and personal history. The decision, expected to be finalized for the future King's enrollment in September 2026, is a high-stakes balancing act between two prestigious institutions: the all-boys, deeply traditional Eton College, and the co-educational Marlborough College, where his mother, the Princess of Wales, was educated. This is not just a school choice; it is a major signpost for the future direction of the monarchy. The choice of Prince George’s next school has been the subject of intense speculation since he and his siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, moved to Lambrook School in Berkshire. While the official announcement is expected to be kept private until the last possible moment, the latest royal reports suggest a fierce, years-long disagreement behind the scenes, centering on whether the young Prince should follow his father into the traditional world of boarding school or remain closer to home in a day-school or co-ed environment.

The Future King's Path: A Royal Education Biography

Before diving into the contentious decision, it is essential to trace the educational journey of Prince George Alexander Louis, the heir to the throne.

• Full Name: Prince George Alexander Louis
• Title: Prince George of Wales
• Born: 22 July 2013, St Mary's Hospital, London
• Parents: Prince William, Prince of Wales, and Catherine (Kate), Princess of Wales
• Siblings: Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince Louis of Wales
• Current School (Primary/Prep): Lambrook School, Berkshire (Attended since September 2022)
• Previous Schooling: Westacre Montessori School Nursery (Norfolk), Thomas's School (Battersea, London)
• Next Educational Step: Secondary School (Age 13, expected enrollment in September 2026)
• Current Residence: Adelaide Cottage, Windsor Great Park

Prince George’s enrollment in secondary school marks a significant transition, moving from the preparatory phase at Lambrook to a senior institution, a decision that carries the weight of royal history and the expectations of the entire nation.

The Battle of the Schools: Eton College vs. Marlborough College

The decision for Prince George has narrowed down to two powerhouses of British private education, each representing a different vision for the future King’s formative teenage years. The choice between them highlights the central tension between royal tradition and the modern, co-ed preference of the Princess of Wales.

1. Eton College: The Traditional, All-Boys Legacy

Eton College, located near Windsor Castle in Berkshire, is the traditional choice for male members of the Royal Family. It is an all-boys boarding school that has educated 20 British Prime Ministers and countless figures of influence.

• Royal Pedigree: Prince William and Prince Harry both attended Eton. William enrolled in 1995, becoming the first senior royal to be educated there, following in the footsteps of the Dukes of Gloucester and Kent, and Prince Michael of Kent.
• The Draw for Prince William: For the Prince of Wales, Eton represents a successful, familiar, and traditional path. He reportedly thrived there, and the school’s proximity to Adelaide Cottage means he could maintain a close relationship with his eldest son.
• The Format: It is a full-time, all-boys boarding school, meaning Prince George would live on campus and be immersed in a highly disciplined and academically rigorous environment.

2. Marlborough College: The Co-Ed, Modern Preference

Marlborough College, located in Wiltshire, holds a powerful personal appeal for the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, who attended the school and reportedly had a positive experience.

• The Kate Factor: Kate Middleton was a student at Marlborough, and she is known to favor the co-educational environment and the opportunity for her children to share their schooling experience.
• The Co-Ed Advantage: Marlborough is a co-educational institution, which means if George were to attend, his younger sister, Princess Charlotte, could potentially join him later. This aligns with the Waleses' desire to keep their children together as they did at Lambrook.
• The Format: It is a co-ed boarding and day school. While Kate herself boarded, the potential for a day-school option or a less intense boarding experience is seen as a compromise.

5 Shocking Factors Driving Prince George’s Final Schooling Decision

The choice is far more nuanced than simply picking between two excellent schools. It involves deep-seated personal experiences, security concerns, and the evolving role of the modern monarchy.

1. The William vs. Kate "Boarding School" Argument

The core of the reported disagreement is the question of boarding versus day school. Prince William is reportedly a proponent of the traditional boarding school experience, believing it prepares a future King for the rigors of his role, as it did for him. However, the Princess of Wales is said to be "torn" or "clashing" with William over this. Her preference is for a more modern, less isolated approach, potentially a day school where George can return home to Adelaide Cottage every evening. This desire is reportedly rooted in her own experience.

2. Kate Middleton’s Unhappy Schooling History

One of the most significant, yet often overlooked, factors is Kate Middleton’s personal history. Before attending Marlborough College, Kate spent a brief, unhappy period at Downe House, an all-girls boarding school, where she reportedly endured bullying. This experience has made her wary of sending her eldest son away to a full-time boarding environment, especially to an all-boys school like Eton, where the pressure and scrutiny on a future King would be immense.

3. The 'Keeping the Children Together' Strategy

The Prince and Princess of Wales have made a concerted effort to keep their children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—together for as long as possible, famously moving them from London to Lambrook School in Berkshire to facilitate this. The choice of Marlborough (co-ed) would allow Princess Charlotte to potentially follow her brother, maintaining the close-knit family unit. Eton (all-boys) would necessitate a separate, all-girls secondary school for Charlotte, forcing the family to split their children's education and potentially their time. This strategy strongly favors Marlborough.

4. The Pressure of the Royal Title and Security

Prince George is second in line to the throne, and his education is a matter of state, not just a private family decision. The school must provide an environment where he can be as "normal" as possible while also ensuring the highest level of security. Eton, due to its long history with the Royal Family and its proximity to Windsor, is arguably better equipped to handle the unique security and privacy demands of the heir. Conversely, a co-ed environment like Marlborough might offer a more balanced, less intense atmosphere, which could be beneficial for his emotional development away from the constant spotlight.

5. The Prince Harry Effect: Lessons Learned from the Past

The Waleses are undoubtedly mindful of the challenges faced by Prince Harry, who also attended Eton. The intense scrutiny and the pressure of the traditional royal system were a contributing factor to the emotional difficulties Harry faced. Prince William and Kate are determined to give Prince George a more emotionally stable and modern upbringing than previous generations of royals. While Eton worked for William, the couple must weigh whether the traditional path is the best path for their son, given the modern context and the lessons learned from the past. The decision will set a powerful precedent for how the Royal Family balances its historic role with the demands of 21st-century parenting.

The September 2026 Deadline and the Likely Outcome

Prince George is currently on track to finish his preparatory education at Lambrook School in the summer of 2026. The final decision on his secondary school must be made soon, with registration and entrance exams a critical factor in the preceding year. While reports of a definite decision for Eton have circulated, the reality is that the Prince and Princess of Wales are masters of misdirection when it comes to their children’s privacy. They are expected to delay the official announcement until the very last minute, possibly even after George has started. However, the latest reports suggest that William's preference for the traditional path—Eton College—may ultimately prevail, though perhaps with a compromise on the level of full-time boarding to appease Kate’s concerns. Regardless of the final choice, this decision is a powerful statement about the future of the monarchy. It confirms that even for the heir to the throne, the age-old customs of the Royal Family are being fiercely debated and subtly reshaped by the modern, protective instincts of Prince William and the Princess of Wales.