Why Prince George Is 'Very Well Prepared' for Eton Before His First Day (Exclusive)
Why Prince George Is 'Very Well Prepared' for Eton Before His First Day (Exclusive)
Monique JessenFri, June 26, 2026 at 4:17 PM UTC
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Prince George; Eton CollegeCredit: The Prince and Princess of Wales/Instagram; Steve Christo - Corbis/Corbis via Getty -
Prince George has been preparing for Eton through Lambrook School and guidance from Prince William, an Eton alum
Lambrook is a top feeder school for Eton, helping students adjust to boarding life and its traditions, Melanie Sanderson, Managing Editor at The Good Schools Guide, tells PEOPLE
William and Kate chose Eton for its proximity to Windsor Castle and its strong pastoral care system
When Prince George arrives at Eton College this September, he'll be joining one of Britain's oldest and most tradition-bound schools—but according to one education expert, he won't be walking in unprepared.
Following Kensington Palace's announcement on June 16 that the 12-year-old will attend Prince William's alma mater this fall, Melanie Sanderson, Managing Editor at The Good Schools Guide, tells PEOPLE that George has likely been preparing for the transition for years through his education at Lambrook School and life at home with a father who knows Eton inside and out.
"Eton has its own language—they call year groups different things," Sanderson tells PEOPLE. "It's from a bygone era, but of course, when your dad has been through that system, it's probably been part of his vernacular for most of his life. As parents, you do talk about your school days, and your kids can relate to that. I'm confident that he will be very well prepared."
Lambrook, where George has attended alongside Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, 8, has long been considered one of Eton's strongest feeder schools.
"Lambrook is really used to sending boys off to Eton," Sanderson says. "It's a regular feeder for Eton College and lots of boys would have trodden that path before, so it's nothing new. It's a prep school, so its absolute purpose is to prepare its boys and girls for their next school."
The preparation extends well beyond academics. After William recently revealed that George has already experienced overnight boarding at school, Sanderson says that step is an important milestone.
"When they start boarding, prep schools teach their young people 'boarding skills,'" she explains. "Things like the right way to change a duvet cover, how to sort their laundry—they pick up a lot of life skills to help them make that adjustment really quickly."
George has also likely become accustomed to the daily rhythm of boarding school life before arriving at Eton.
"He will be used to being away from mum and dad and his siblings and used to following that routine—what each bell means, where you need to be at what time, getting yourself up and dressed into the right kit and hair combed," Sanderson says. "He'll already have been going to chapel services at Lambrook and would know when to sit down and when to kneel."
Prince William at Eton College in 2000Credit: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty
Still, she notes, William and Kate Middleton are likely to share the same concerns as any parents sending a child to boarding school.
"I'm sure like any parents Catherine and William will be concerned that he's going to find his place, find the right kind of friends and thrive."
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While Eton's traditions can seem intimidating from the outside, George won't be arriving alone.
"There will be other boys from Lambrook going," Sanderson says. "There's probably a good handful, if not more, so there will be friendly faces."
Prince William at Eton College in 1995Credit: Antony Jones/UK Press via Getty
She adds that the prep-school community is closely connected through years of sports fixtures and shared events, meaning George will likely recognize many classmates before classes even begin.
Life at Eton will also include a robust pastoral support system.
"He will have a dame," Sanderson explains, referring to the house matron assigned to each boarding house. "She's like their mum when their mum isn't there. If they lose something or feel homesick, the dame is there to pick up the 'mum' role."
Eton CollegeCredit: Andrew Matthews/PA Images via Getty
"Thirty years ago, boys were not encouraged to talk about their feelings and boarding schools were much harder places to be," Sanderson says. "Now there is such an emphasis on pastoral care and mental health."
For William and Kate, geography was likely another deciding factor.
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"They can do the school run to Lambrook in the morning and still make it to Eton in the afternoon to watch a football match or listen to a recital. You can literally see Eton College from Windsor Castle and they live on the estate," Sanderson says.
"I've always thought it was going to be Eton because it really works for them as a family," she adds. "They are such hands-on parents."
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