Prince George Oundle? Many reports suggesting so

[Spareheir]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-13073409/Kate-Middleton-considering-Oundle-School-Prince-George-Environmentally-conscious-institution-teaches-pupils-ambitious-never-arrogant.html

Well, William is Heir and has the Duchy of Cornwall - but all the land is Duchy land.

What properties are the accruing exactly? They have the same number they had as before they moved to Forest Lodge - the other 2 are Anmer Hall and the apartment at KP. Unless you're following the SM trend of thinking they keep all the houses they've ever stayed in? Once they move out the Crown Estate then lease the property to someone else.

And the public land? You mean the land that is part of Windsor Great Park and is not in fact public land? That the Met, RAVEC and their security deemed to be necessary security cordoned? That was never public land at all? That land?

They're using land that is all part of the Crown Estate. As for the helicopter travel? Id be interested to see exactly how often they do use it, but I doubt it's daily.

Why don't you just post the physical address so everyone can find her? Good god, I hope your kids have left by the time the poor girl starts.

I’m quite baffled by both parts of your comment… but I for one hope they don’t come to oundle as it’s bound to make it quite weird for everyone else.

@Donostiera i would hope that any parent or child at any of the schools speculated upon, on any of these threads, are a little more discreet about these things.

Oh gosh i’m obviously totally naive, I had no idea there was protocol. I’ll see if I can work out how to remove a comment

To hear of people forking out upwards of £35k a year per child fret about the price of culottes is absolutely hilarious.

But then it’s often pointed out to the parents of mere mortals who attend state school, that people make sooo many ‘sacrifices’ to afford private education, so perhaps cladding their child in a second hand item of clothing is one of them.

I don’t think an open visit to Oundle automatically means there has been some last-minute switch for George. It could be, of course, but if George is due to start senior school in September, I would imagine that decision was made quite a while ago, not a few weeks before Common Entrance exams.

They were also reportedly seen at Marlborough not long ago with Charlotte, so to me it seems more likely they are looking at schools for Charlotte, just like they did with George when he was the same age.

Yes, I would expect one of the first things the parents would be looking for would be a lack of comment by others on social media.

Gosh, what a passionate reply!

I actually do not know what they own or do not own in fairness, so I was undoubtedly speaking out of turn.

I had in mind Windsor Great Park. It does seem to me though, that with all they have a their disposal it was a shame to go there and upset the locals so much. I mean - they have plenty of options, no?

In terms of the helicopter - we will never know. You may doubt it is daily use. I doubt they ever move without it.

So there we have it - we both live in doubt!

Not passionate - merely factual

I'm sorry you get stressed by facts.

Ah now @MrsFinkelstein, no need to get snippy.

I was enjoying our little interaction, I thought you were too.

Life is pretty subjective most of time is it not?

George’s school will be absolutely locked in by now. But for the sanity of everyone who is there or going, it probably won’t get announced until the poor current kids have broken up for the summer. There will then be a cheesy meet the head and shake hands photo when he starts in September and that’s all we’ll see of it.

Changing tack a bit, does Prince George NEED to go to a (I'm assuming as I cannot read the article) boarding school?

Have boarding schools particularly served members of the monarchy well? Has it helped them become well rounded individuals?

Both William and Kate espouse a lot of understanding of mental health. This seems very contrary to that. How does sending their child away at such a young age demonstrate any understanding of mental health, when there are reportedly issues faced by a large enough cohort of ex-boarders to warrant therapists specialising in so called 'boarding school syndrome'?

Are the RF locked into the boarding school system? They have no choice?

Ever thought that he doesn’t need to go, but might actually want to go?

Maybe William and Catherine asked George what he wanted, and maybe he likes the idea of boarding. Not every child has the same experience of boarding school, and not every boarding school experience is automatically damaging.

There is also the fact that both William and Catherine went to boarding school themselves and seemed to enjoy it, so they may not see it as some terrible thing. They also know their own child better than random people online do. If they think he is ready, and if he wants to go, then I don’t really see the issue.

Are the RF locked into the boarding school system?

Given that Charles is the first monarch to have gone to school, I think it's a bit soon to say they are 'locked in' to any system.

I respect this pov, that was why I asked if the royal family was locked in, whether boarding school is mandatory for future royal heirs. Because with the exception of QE2 it seems to be a tradition of the RF.

But with the ongoing sagas of the last 40+ years and increasing republican sentiment, I question if boarding school is resulting in mentally well adjusted adults who are in touch with the public at large. To me it further entrenches the idea of being set apart.

And I accept that not everyone has a negative experience of boarding school. There are always deviations from the mean. Coping strategies that can result in high self-reliance and confidence or emotional and mental instability. But even if successful that doesn't mean they don't exhibit problems in other ways.

Personally, even if he 'wants' to go I am very skeptical of how much of a true 'choice' that is. I don't see boarding as a choice a child can make. How can a child possibly understand the possible complex psychological ramifications of such a choice at 11? And there are always ramifications. There may be many positives, but I don't think there's much child psychology in support of children being sent away from their parents most of a year and brought up in institutions. Certainly children can be subtly socialised from a young age into seeing boarding as a valid choice by their family and social circle. But I do not see a child under 16 being able to make a choice to be separated from their family and parents the majority of the year, anymore than they can consent to the ramifications of many other serious life choices.

We know Charles had a rotten time at boarding school, you could say that was exceptional, but Andrew (based on things I have heard others say in AL book, I could be wrong) experienced both highly detrimental egoflation with a sycophantic peer group and damaging precocious sexual encounters (Lownie says he was also abused but I don't specifically know when, either way he was shockingly vulnerable). No respectful manners for those beneath him in station appear to have been instilled in him at boarding school either.

Again, W&K both profess to understand child well being (K) and mental health (W principally, and K) this to me is totally out of synch with that.

I think for royal children it’s probably more of a positive adventure than anything because they get to mix round the clock with other kids out of their Royal bubble.

Yes it’s still a pretty privileged bubble of a different type but it’s a chance to focus more on friends - it looks like the Wales kids do lots of activities but it’s probably a lot harder to arrange casual hanging out with friends after school.

George attends Lambrook Prep School, where they offer a flexible boarding system. Pupils can board from occasional nights up to several nights a week, so it isn’t an all-or-nothing arrangement and can be introduced gradually over time.
According to Robert Jobson, George has shown interest in trying boarding there. If that’s the case, it’s reasonable to assume he may already have had some exposure to it. Because of that, I don’t think it’s quite accurate to frame this as an 11-year-old making a blind or uninformed “choice.” By 13, he would be much better placed to judge it based on actual experience rather than theory.

Your added context does mean I'm not quite correct in framing it the way I did.

I am not sure how legitimate other options besides full or quasi boarding school have ever been considered by W&K

@wordler I think for royal children it’s probably more of a positive adventure than anything because they get to mix round the clock with other kids out of their Royal bubble.

I don't actually think it's balanced or good for children to be with other children 24/7, even friends.

But I agree it would be beneficial if those children were from a cohort outside of their immediate royal circle, their many cousins etc.

Pretty sure it was reported that Kate had visited some day schools as well so have to assume they are making an informed choice.

Boarding school is very different now to when Charles went but it definitely isn't for all children.

Boarding isn't for everyone , but the trope of boarders being away for weeks /months at a time , ending up with mal adjusted personalities I think is just nonsense, in this day and age. I'm not saying it works for everyone , but it can be a very positive experience . I repeat , it doesn't suit everyone but well chosen and the son or daughter wanting to do it , it can be a good thing. But that is an unpopular view , I know.

I don't think your view is unpopular at all.

That said, the needs of children for their parents hasn't changed in this day and age. In this day and age children are probably more in need of their parents than ever before, going by stats on mental health among young people.

Whilst I might be being a bit presumptive about W, K and G's situation and their motivations, it is objectively true that it is not (all things being equal, obviously if home life is abusive, or parents are travelling 24/7 it may be the best alternative option) better for children to be separated from their parents at a young age, to be surrounded day and night by their peers of similar age, especially when they are soon to go into a vulnerable period of physiological development.

It cannot be for the academics. W&K are loaded and George given the amazing breadth of life experiences he's already had, should be reasonably bright and capable of achieving great things whilst not full time boarding. They can afford the best private tutors after all.

I don't know, I keep wondering if being Royal actually harms the children, who cannot after all choose whether to be part of the monarchy, and whether the monarchy should be removed so they can be free to have other options in their lives.

But I accept that he may well be happy and end up doing reasonably well. I hope he does. I really want to see an end to the era's of scandals and sadness with regards to the RF. That needs to be over.