Technically, it’s not really a “royal tradition” that princes, dukes and viscounts are all graduates of Eton. Prince Charles didn’t go to Eton, but he sent his two sons there, so it feels like a “newer” tradition for the royal family. But does Prince William feel strongly about sending HIS sons to his prep school alma mater? I would suspect that William doesn’t feel like he has a choice – it’s simply what is done at this point, sending your princes and aristocratic sons off to Eton so that they can board with the sons of merely wealthy and politically well-connected. But Will and Kate have already made some unconventional choices for their kids’ early education, so maybe this is a fight Kate wants to have: apparently, Kate is not keen on sending George off to Eton. She wants to consider HER alma mater, Marlborough College:
The Duchess of Cambridge is considering sending Prince George to her alma mater Marlborough College, friends say. She and Prince William are said to have discussed enrolling their eldest at the £12,605-a-term boarding school rather than Eton, where his father and uncle went.
George, of course, is only five years old and the couple will not decide on his future education for years to come. He is a pupil at Thomas’s Battersea, a £6,158-a-term co-educational school in south-west London, where he can stay for another eight years. Both Marlborough and £13,556-a-term Eton take full-time boarders from the age of 13.
Friends say the couple are deliberating a ‘less traditional’ educational route for the future king than previous heirs. Although Wiltshire-based Marlborough is one of Britain’s top boarding schools, it prides itself on being less of a ‘hothouse’ than its rivals. It seeks a mixed-ability intake, although results are still good and 10 per cent of pupils go to Oxbridge. Eton sends a quarter to Oxbridge, latest figures show.
Kate and her siblings, Pippa and James Middleton, were Marlborough boarders and adored their time there. All three excelled, particularly at sport, with the duchess representing the school at hockey, netball, athletics and tennis. The ‘jaw-dropping’ facilities include an observatory and swimming pool with a movable floor to change its depth.
The friend added: ‘William and Catherine surprised many with their choice of Thomas’s Battersea for George over more traditional royal schools, but picked it because they felt it was the right fit for him. They are very keen to allow George to spread his wings as a child and won’t ever do what people expect them to do when it comes to their children.’
In the long term, I suspect that this will be one of the areas where Kate “cashes in” some of the goodwill she’s accumulated over the years: she’s going to fight to get her way on her kids’ education. And to be fair, I think a lot of people take issue with packing off their kids to same-sex boarding school for years, so Kate’s not alone there. Marlborough is at least co-ed, and Prince George could get to spend time with girls, and just be part of a less competitive environment. Still, I think Kate is more likely to get her way on Charlotte and Lou’s education. At the end of the day, they’ll probably be forced to send George to Eton.
And here’s an update, which I was expecting – Charlotte will be joining Prince George at Thomas’ Battersea in the fall.
Photos courtesy of Kensington Palace, WENN.
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