Marlborough College for Prince George!

[barefootcook]

A great choice for the whole family. He will do well there.

They don’t have their parents

I saw Kate, her parents, and the children a few years ago at a family day out place, and they were in normal clothes. Dressed like any other child there.

I think his father was totally wrong for him ... 😂

I don't know about stronger but in general he would probably have been happier at Eton. He could have done Art A-level, like Harry, and popped over to Windsor to visit his granny, like William.

Boarding schools now are different from boarding schools 40 years ago.
Much less 'full boarding' , much more flexibility.
Modern technology enables keeping in touch, not like in my day when there was one pay phone in the hall for 40 girls.
The right child in the right school could have a great experience.
The wrong child in the wrong school, however...

Absolutely.

The frilly stuff you can blame Diana for as Kate recycled some of William's outfits - I guess she was taken with the new-Romantic era of the early 80s.

She didn't have to 'recycle' them though. She chose to do this.

Like the time she pushed the ridiculously big pram along a gravel path wearing heels. It was hilariously funny to watch.

She's presumably advised about 'tradition' and I get the impression she's keen to try to 'get it right', whether or not, thats due to her own insecurity, is anybody's guess. Feel a bit sorry for anyone marrying into that family to be honest but it was her choice.

Spot on & if the ‘wrong’ experience no one blabbed as didn’t want to let folks down. :(

The Waleses have an agreement with the press for one photo o n first day at school then leave the children alone. It seems to have worked up to now, so no stories in the press involving the Royal children

Not sure Eton would work these days, it really is very open and very touristy. When W & H went there weren't camera phones, social media etc. Even if someone did takes pictures of them, newspapers couldn't print them and there wasn't much else you could do with them, other than prove you once saw the 3rd or 4th in line to the throne rushing to their geography class. These days it would be impossible to control any pictures, and more people are likely to rock up hoping to get some snaps for their holiday album. We also seem to have more crazies running about, though they may just be reported more. But I can't see how they could possibly keep the public far enough away to not hugely impact on the children's day to day lives without barricades and a large contingent of armed guards.

OtherS · Today 16:13
Not sure Eton would work these days, it really is very open and very touristy

That is true but there are so many boys that a photographer would have to be lucky to be in the right place at the right time - though I suppose some paparazzi might have spies within the school alerting them to Prince George’s whereabouts.

I don't think most of that applies to teens - lots of teens do v well boarding as they enjoy being focused on their peer group. I'm assuming both Kate and William enjoyed senior boarding or they wouldn't consider it. They haven't gone for prep boarding as William did, presumably because they think it's too young.

By 13 the kids will be old enough to have a view of their own, and I'd imagine they have day options lined up if they don't want to board.

Just because someone has a different perspective to you, doesn't make them 'old fashioned'.

I spotted this bit of “news” on my FB feed but with a bit of digging appeared more speculative than confirmed.
Whatever choice is made I hope it’s a good choice for him.

I think it bodes very well that Lambrook parents have played by rules & respected privacy.

Hahaha to the poster who said teens have a much more wholesome life boarding than at home. Rife with drugs & loads of underage sex from our experience. My Dd went for a couple of years and I would never recommend.

I think it will be very hard for whichever school the Royal children end up going too. None of the big schools need the publicity but then they all already have 'famous' kids there.

Regarding drugs and underage sex - I have dc in day and boarding and it's across the board. Although harder in many ways to do so whilst boarding but of course happens at parties etc - I mean they are teens.

One option that is seldom mentioned is Atlantic College Wales which was attended by the Spanish crown princess Llenor recently and now by her sister and additionally by one of the Netherlands royal children I believe.

I assume therefore that it’s ok on the security front. But perhaps they’d prefer him closer to home.

They could probably hang about waiting for the perfect shot though if they so wished, plus there will always be people there taking pictures as Eton is in itself a tourist attraction. I doubt many paps would bother though as I can't imagine the 3rd in line to the throne rushing to geography is any more exciting to a newspaper than it was in the 90s! Royal fans may be more of a concern, or just random tourists who happen to be in Windsor having a wander up to the college on the off chance. Or of course raving lunatics who want to harm the family.

Marlborough might be easier as though it's a perfectly pleasant town, I'm not sure there are huge crowds of tourists taking pictures of the college buildings. Though when I think 'Marlborough' I do think 'long traffic jam along the high street', which could theoretically be because of all the gawkers at the other end! But I believe it is more self contained, with only some boarding houses in the main part of town? Whereas in Eton both the houses and the classrooms are scattered about all over the place, so you can't really help being right among the public. I would think in this day and age securing Eton would be very expensive and very visible, which probably wouldn't go down well.

It's also really probably best suited to a very academic child, so unless George is one (which he may of course be), I'd guess his parents would find somewhere better suited. I think they will be prioritising the perfect fit over tradition, or even prestige. Though I may of course be entirely wrong on all counts.

I've been there a few times (not as a pupil!) it only takes 16-19 year olds, more of a 6th form college.

Interesting. Is it mainly foreign students then or are there UK schools of similar calibre that take children up to that age?

One thing is that all boys at Eton are (or were, within the past few years) cautioned, when they arrive, on exactly how to respond to being accosted by eager tourists. They’re perfectly used to it. And there are, frankly, innumerable golden haired boys striding to and from lessons, etc, all through the day and evening. Probably only the most dedicated visitors could actually distinguish one from another in passing. The sheer vastness of the school population, their clothing and the general busy-ness, together offer a form of distancing and protection.

I think George would be fairly incognito at any of the schools mentioned as others have said - fair haired floppy haired boys are ten a penny.

They should send him to the local comp. That would be flipping awesome and probably the only thing that would get me on board with the Royals.

Dds best friend goes to that school it is insanely posh. The girls that go there are nice but many of the boys are twats (teen view not mine)

They don’t whilst at school but they have much longer school holidays and many spend the weekends as well with their parents.

The quality of time spent with parents is probably greater for many than those that might have longer terms at state schools and only see their parents for a short duration in the evenings.

But the only people really interested other than people like us, who are mainly doing the equivalent of gossiping because we are bored and online, are complete nutters. They will try to seek the kids out wherever they are so a photograph isn’t going to particularly interest normal people. I mean the kids are being encouraged to give selfies.

My guess is they won’t split them so Marlborough is likely. But apart from people who aspire for their kids to bump
shoulders with them, who cares really.

TheaBrandt1 · Today 18:15
They should send him to the local comp. That would be flipping awesome and probably the only thing that would get me on board with the Royals

So republicans can enjoy the prospect of him being bullied for being posh?
You’ve often mentioned your dd’s best friend at Marlborough. When she’s around do you make your views on the iniquities of private schools as clear to her as you do on here?