On Tuesday, 8 September, the 13-year-old Prince George arrived at Eton College for his first day of secondary school. He was joined by his parents, Prince William and Kate Middleton, for this important occasion. At the gates of the school, the family was greeted by the college's headmaster, Simon Henderson, and Eton's Provost, Sir Nicholas Colledge, who heads the college's governing body. In images captured by photographer Matt Porteous, the family is seen upon arrival: Kate, in an emerald dress, holds a black umbrella, while George and William are dressed in formal dark suits.

The Legendary Eton College Uniform

Shortly after their arrival, the first photographs of George in the famous school uniform emerged, which differs significantly from the usual attire. Eton's traditional dress code calls for a black tailcoat, a waistcoat, pinstriped trousers, a white shirt with a stiff collar, a tie, and black shoes. Prince Harry, who attended Eton from 1998, also spoke in his memoir Spare about the challenges of mastering such an outfit: it took him time to learn how to dress properly in the mornings.

A Family Tradition: From Diana and Charles to William

The first day at Eton holds special significance for the family. Almost 31 years ago, Prince William walked the same path: he began his education in September 1995, also at the age of 13, accompanied by Prince Charles and Princess Diana. The 10-year-old Prince Harry also came to the event. According to royal experts, George himself wanted to continue the family tradition and study at Eton, where his father spent five years.

Contradictory Data

The sources contain a minor discrepancy in the chronology. The main text states that Prince William entered Eton "almost 31 years ago" (September 1995), which, given the current date of 2026, amounts to exactly 31 years. Meanwhile, the TSN.ua article headline phrases the event as "30 years have passed." Thus, depending on the source, the difference is one year; the actual date of William's admission (September 1995) is the same in both cases.

What Comes Next: The Path to the Role of Future King

Education at Eton is an important stage in preparing George for his future role. In addition to a solid education, he is set to gain experience that will help him prepare to fulfil the duties of a future king. In the future, becoming a so-called Pop — a senior student with a leadership role — he will be able to wear a brighter waistcoat; at one point, William wore a waistcoat featuring the British flag. The college is located near Windsor — approximately 24 kilometres from William and Kate's family residence at Forest Lodge. During the school week, George will live at the school, and on weekends he will be able to return home.