Prince George, 13, will begin attending Eton College as a boarder, following in the footsteps of his father, Prince William, and other family members. The school, which has educated 20 British prime ministers, charges around £65,000 a year. As second in line to the throne, Prince George’s education has been a subject of speculation, but his parents have opted for the traditional Eton College, known for its ‘spectacular facilities and spacious grounds’ and ‘progressive outlook,’ according to the Good Schools Guide. Eton currently has 25 boarding houses, each accommodating approximately 55 pupils.
The school is steeped in its own unique traditions and language, which new students, or ‘F Block’ pupils, must learn. These include specific names for locations – ‘Judy’s Passage’ and ‘Nolan’s Crack’ are shortcuts – and roles, such as ‘beaks’ for teachers and ‘divs’ for lessons. A ‘Colours Test’ assesses new boys’ knowledge of the school’s history and customs. There is also a historical practice called ‘capping’ – raising a finger in greeting to schoolmasters – though it is no longer widely practiced. The Daily Mail reports that a historical punishment, known as a ‘Georgic’ – writing out 500 lines of Latin hexameter – may still be applied by the Deputy Headmaster, known as ‘Lower Man.’
Recent alumni of Eton include Lord David Cameron, Boris Johnson, Kwasi Kwarteng, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, Eddie Redmayne, Dominic West, Damian Lewis, and Tom Hiddleston. Prince William, reflecting on his time at Eton in 2000, said he “really enjoyed being able to go about Eton as just another student.” While the school has evolved, many of its core characteristics remain consistent, creating a unique environment for all students, regardless of background.
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